Volume 9, Issue 3 JUNE 2014

SXTA Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association UPDATE “S’ólh témexw te íkw’elò. Xólhmet te mekw’stám ít kwelát.” “This is our land. We have to take care of everything that belongs to us.” Temt’ámxw Gooseberry time Treaty Settlement Land (TSL) Engagement

“...Never had a court SXTA Engagement Update: 1) Self-governance say that Aboriginal 2) Self-sufficiency – important that we aren’t n April 22nd, the SXTA hosted the title existed, until reliant on government handouts. now (Tsilqot’in case).” O first Leadership Engagement evening held at to discuss 3) Culture & Heritage – protection of our lan- our treaty settlement lands of interest with guage and traditions. our neighboring Stó:lō non-treaty First Our treaty is not like other treaties, we are Nations’ Chiefs & Councillors. “Are we going to have blazing our own chapter language and we are less land in 50yrs Non-treaty ’ Leadership at- not taking less than what we have now and available to us to set- tending this initial session were from not giving up things we have control of now. tle in treaty negotia- Cheam, Yale, Kwikwetlem, and Sts’ailes. In defining TSL and treaty vision we based tions or more After the meal Grand Chief Steven Point our needs assessment for a sustainable com- land? ...reality is less began with a discussion on the importance munity in accordance with our 100-year plan. land…” of being in treaty now. He mentioned that Land use in S’ólh Téméxw shows us the we have never had a court say that Aborigi- heavy growth happening already. Areas nal title existed until now (Tsilqot’in case). around the park and the valley floor, give us He emphasized that once we get a treaty “We cannot protect an idea of how much of our territory is devel- that is protected by Section 35 of the Con- what we have unless oped and how much is left. stitution Act our rights cannot be taken we have a treaty, in away. * Without treaty, the authority is the Indian Act; my view, it’s the best protection we’ve got He also stressed that the longer we wait to * In treaty, it is self-government, and law making; against the erosion of protect the land that is left, there will be * Without treaty, funding is the federal govern- our rights.” less land available. ment, which is always declining; Grand Chief and SXTA Political Advisor * In treaty, there are fixed finance agreements, Joe Hall conducted the presentation focus- diversified funding and revenues, own-source ing on what our strategy is, where we have revenues (OSR); Quotes from Grand Chief been, where we are going with our land Steven Point—April 22nd package, what exists now, and what we are * Without treaty, Aboriginal rights under Section forecasting for the future. 35 are undefined; He shared with the group that the Stó:lō * In treaty, rights are defined and unextinguished. Xwexwilmexw treaty is built on three pil- lars: Continued on page 2... Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association UPDATE

TREATY UPDATE continued...

From page 1… CHIEF NEGOTIATORS MEETING: volve 47 First Nations, representing 83 Indian Act Bands. This means that  The BC Treaty Commission com- With our treaty settlement lands we 41% of all Indian Act Bands in BC are prises of five Commissioners: two will have full control and authority actively involved in treaty negotiations. with our laws, we are seeking shared elected by the First Nations Sum- decision-making powers for steward- mit (Celeste Haldane & Francis  A New Direction: Advancing Abo- ship reasons. Tsilqot’in gave us a shot Frank), and one each appointed by riginal and Treaty Rights by in the arm with respect to treaty nego- the Federal (Jerry Lampert) and Douglas R. Eyford – Joe Wild, tiations. Provincial (Tom Happynook) gov- Senior Official at Aboriginal Af- ernments. The Chief Commission- fairs and Northern Development The presentations were followed by er is chosen by unanimous agree- various discussions on the treaty pro- Canada (AANDC) Treaty Branch ment of the three Principals. cess, Crown lands and shared territo- will be gathering comments and ry, treaty vs agreements such as Im-  Despite BC’s “11th hour” reversal feedback on this report. The BCTC pact Benefit Agreements (IBA), and in their selection for the Chief Principals will be discussing the the interest for more meetings like Commissioner position (which was recommendation from the FNS to this. approved by all principals), the establish a working group for the BCTC will continue to operate implementation of Eyford’s recom- The next TSL Engagement meetings, within their mandate as the inde- mendations. now geared toward our neighboring pendent facilitator for treaty nego- non-treaty “Tribal” Leadership, will Te’mexw Treaty Association tiations. which consists of five southern be: Vancouver Island communities of Malahat, Scia’new (Beecher Bay), Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe Engagement SETTING THE RECORD STRAIGHT (excerpt from BCTC UPDATE/Spring 2015): Snaw-naw-AS (Nanoose), Tuesday, June 30th and T’sou-ke (Sooke), signed an at SRC Bldg 10, 5-9pm  There are 65 First Nations, represent- Agreement-in-Principle (AIP) on

ing 105 Indian Act Bands out of a total April 9th, 2015. Tít Tribe Engagement July 3, 2015 of 199 Indian Act Bands in BC, which at Chawathil, 10:30am-1pm are participating in or which have com- pleted treaties through the BC treaty Note: Individual Stó:lō non-treaty First negotiations process. Nations are welcome to ask us to meet  Active or completed negotiations in- with their councils as well.

SXTA WORKSHOP UPDATE

n May 12-13, the SXTA held then discussed which level of our harmonize our codes and again which O their quarterly workshop which government would be responsible for level of government would be re- focussed on Children & Family and the various aspects of child & family sponsible for various parts of land Lands/Governance. A presentation on care. This is an exciting area right management and law-making. Other “Best Interests of the Child” was now as we create our own systems topics included: treaty and main table shown and discussion followed on incorporating our traditional values. updates, law enforcement, additions “What do We all have a responsibility to partic- & deletions to land package, and oth- you want to ipate, discuss and try to think outside er Stó:lō First Nations joining our do?” Break the box. treaty. The next SXTA workshop is out groups The second break out session fo- scheduled for September 2015. cussed on land code and how we can Page 2 Volume 9, Issue 3

First Nation and Indigenous Studies

he next few articles for UBC Vancouver *Media consultant Simon Fraser T our Youth Page will intro- Campus First *Student/academic advisor University (SFU) duce you to some programs Nations Studies *Museum curator First Nations that a few of the universities Program (FNSP) *Administrative assistant Studies in currently What Can You Do with a FNSP (Aboriginal Affairs) Other departments offering pro- have to offer. Degree? *Community services assistant grams with FNST courses in- We will need educated citi- Wondering what you could do *Indigenous education specialist clude: *Community support worker zens in many fields. Our with an undergraduate degree *Certificate in Literacy Instruction or graduate training in First *Arts and heritage advisor Community and Public Ser- (Faculty of Education) vices will open up numerous Nations and Indigenous Stud- *Education resource specialist employment opportunities ies? Here are a few options! *Environmental assessment officer *Ethics Certificate (Department once treaty is ratified. FNSP staff and faculty can *Resource management specialist of Philosophy) offer more details about these *Legal Studies Certificate Program Universities offer programs to and other possibilities: (School of Criminology) obtain all of the degrees/ University of *Community-based researcher diplomas/certificates relating the Fraser *Social Justice Certificate Program *University-based researcher to the career you choose. Valley (Department of Sociology/ These programs can take *Community dev. worker Indigenous Anthropology) *Inter-governmental officer anywhere from 8 months to 3 Studies *Environmental Literacy Certificate *Community-industry liaison or more years to complete, Attainable certificates at UFV: Faculty of Environment *Community-university liaison depending on which type of *Cultural resource manager *Stó:lõ Studies Certificate *Counselling and Human Develop career you choose. *Rural development officer *Indigenous Arts Certificate: Honour- ment Post Baccalaureate Diploma The following are just a few of *Art conservator/technician ing Our Gifts Program (Faculty of Education) the curriculums that BC uni- *Arts advocate *Indigenous Maps, Films, Rights, and versities offer relating to fu- *Multiculturalism educator Land Claims Certificate Check out the First Nations Studies ture employment opportuni- *Impact assessment officer programs website at SFU for more ties with our Treaty. Take a *Aboriginal Culture and Language *Youth worker information. look at the websites and see Support Diploma *Archaeological fieldworker what could be of interest to *Social Services Diploma Submitted by Emily Kelly, *Cultural artifact specialist you! *Certificate in Extended Studies in SXTA Outreach *Documentary writer/director/ Social Services—First Nations producer Option *Fundraiser *Intermediate Certificate in *Employment equity officer Halq’emeylem *Public administration *Community services analyst Check out the First Nations and *Community program coordinator Indigenous Studies UBC and UFV *Tourism consultant websites for more information. *Public policy analyst

Page 3 Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association UPDATE Volume 9, Issue 3

Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association (SXTA) Reps:

SXTA Outreach Team Aitchelitz First Nation— Chief Angie Bailey Building #10, 7201 Vedder Road Skowkale First Nation—Councilor Jeff Point / Chief Willy Hall Chilliwack, B.C. V2R 4G5 Tzeachten First Nation—Councilor Lawrence Roberts / Chief Glenda Campbell

Phone: 604-824-5315/824-2435 —Chief James Murphy Toll free: 1-800-565-6004 Yakweakwioose First Nation—Grand Chief Frank Malloway / Councilor Terry Horne Fax: 604-824-0278 Skawahlook First Nation—Chief Maureen Chapman / Councilor Deb Schneider www.sxta.bc.ca Leq’á:mél First Nation—Chief Alice Thompson / Councilor Shawn Gabriel / Councilor Sandy McDonald

Albert (Sonny)McHalsie -Naxaxalhts’i Cultural Advisor for the Stō:ló Xwexwilmexw Treatry Assn. ATTENTION MEMBERS OF: Narrator for Aitchelitz; Leq’á:mél; Popkum; SXTA sponsored Tours Skawahlook; Skowkale; Tzeachten; & Yakweakwioose. If you have any questions on the Saturday SXTA tour YOU ARE INVITED to join us on our Please call: 604-824-5315 “Downriver” SXTA Placenames Tour sponsored by the Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Outreach Program. Lunch & THE NARRATED snacks provided. TOUR Dress appropriately (layers) and wear Enjoy the majestic mountains and waterways of the Lower Fraser Valley on our new comfortable shoes suitable for mild tour departing from Chilliwack destined for the scenic route through Cultus Lake, Ab- hiking. Don’t forget your camera, botsford, Mission, and Harrison Hot Springs, B.C. Listen and learn about the unique binoculars, & umbrella! relationship between the Stó:lō, “the River People”, their land and their environment through the narratives provided by Naxaxalhts’i, who has studied Halq’eméylem Place This full day tour begins at 8:00 a.m. in Names for over 21 years. Listen and see first hand the special significance of front of Stó:lō Nation Building #1 at Halq’eméylem place names from the recent award winning Stó:lō Nation publication Kwikw’alith’a (Coqualeetza) located in titled A Stó:lō- Historical Atlas. Learn about the three main dialects of Sardis at 7201 Vedder Road. Halq’eméylem and the many micro dialects of each, and the two main aspects of Stó:lō oral history including Sxwōxwiyám and Sqwelqwel, and learn about the unique relation- The tour starts at Kwikw’alith’a and we ship the Stó:lō maintain with their environment through their Shxwelí, or “spirit, life will go through local First Nations areas force”. (Skowkale, Yakweakwioose, and Hear about Kwikw’alith’a, Sq’ewqéyl, Ch’iyáqtel, Th’ewá:li and Swílhcha; special Tzeachten) and our first stop will be at stops of interests include Cultus Lake home of a T’liteqo Spá:th (underwater bear);hear Cultus Lake, then back through Yarrow to about the Barrowtown Pump Station and the the draining of Semá:th Lake; visit McDonald Park near Sumas River Dyke. Xá:ytem — explore Sto:lo history, culture and archaeology; learn about Xexá:ls trans- formations like Méqsel (pictured above), Xá:ytem, Tixwelátsa, Qwél:es, and We stop for lunch at the Leq’á:mél First Chítmexw; hear about the stl’áleqem or spiritual be- Nation gym. Then over to Harrison and ings. Learn the Halq’méylem place names including Phone: 604-824-5315/824-2435 take a short walk to the hot springs. We the original names of Qoqó:lem for Vedder Moun- Toll free: 1-800-565-6004 head back through Agassiz and return to tain, Teq’qéyex for Sumas Mountain, and Fax: 604-824-0278 Kwikw’alith’a (Coqualeetza) around 4pm. Xweqw’eyíqw for Echo Island, and many more [email protected] Halq’eméylem Place Names. NOTE:Page Itinerary 4 subject to change.