CLOSING THE GAP
BEYOND SECTION 35 BC SYMPOSIUM SUMMARY February 19-20, 2013
Marcia Nickerson, Head of Indigenous Governance • 60 George St. Ottawa, ON K1N 1J4 • telephone: 647-986-4244 • www.iog.ca Table of Contents
Acknowledgements 1
Introduction 2
Executive Summary: Closing the Gap 2
Beyond Litigation 2
Self Government and Treaty Negotiations 2
Framework for a New Relationship 3
Drivers for Success 3
Public Education 4
Section 35 as a Framework for Reconciliation 4
Welcome Addresses: Setting the Stage 5
Simon Fraser University President Andrew Petter 5
BC Treaty Commission Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre 5
New Relationship Trust Chair Kathryn Teneese 5
Institute on Governance President Maryantonett Flumian 6
Panel I: Behind the Scenes: The Framing of Section 35 7
Neil Sterritt, President, Sterritt Consulting 7
Jim Aldridge, Partner, Aldridge and Rosling 8
Maria Morellato, Partner, Mandell Pinder 10
Grand Chief Edward John, Grand Chief, Tl’azt’en Nation / Executive, First Nations Summit 11
Change Makers Award 12
Institute on Governance Closing the Gap: Beyond Section 35
2 Keynote Speech Honourable Mr Justice Ian Binnie, Former Justice of the Supreme Court 13
Panel II: How Has the Landscape Changed? 15
Doug McArthur 15
BC Regional Vice-Chief Jody Wilson-Raybould 16
Saskatchewan Regional Vice Chief Perry Bellegarde 17
Panel III: What Are the Initiatives and Promising Practices that Can Move Section 35 Forward in BC? 18
Dave Porter CEO, First Nations Energy and Mining Council 18
Cliff Atleo, President, Nuu-chal-nulth Tribal Council 19
Miles Richardson, Senior Associate, Institute on Governance 20
Plenary Session 21
Jim Sinclair, Video from First Ministers’ Discussions on Aboriginal Constitutional Rights 21
Prime Minister Brian Mulroney Video Address 21
Scott Serson, Former Deputy Minister of Aboriginal Affairs 22
Panel IV: Where Should We Go From Here to Live Up to the Promise of Section 35? 23
Michael Hudson, Associate Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Department of Jus- tice, Government of Canada 23
Kim Baird, Strategic Initiatives Director, Tsawwassen First Nation 24
Kekinusuqs, Judith Sayers Assistant Professor and Visiting National Aboriginal Eco- nomic Development Chair in Business and Law, University of Victoria