Update Spring 2015
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Spring 2015 upbreaking newsdate / / Treaty Negotiations Treaty Commission responds to Province’s Unilateral Action Status Report The Treaty Commission was recently preparing for the transition of Chief Commissioners, with There are 65 First Nations, the departure of Sophie Pierre and the arrival of a new Chief Commissioner, former cabinet representing 105 Indian Act minister and MLA George Abbott. Bands out of a total of 199 Indian Act Bands in BC… While in planning and transitional meetings for this upcoming year, the BCTC learned that the Government of British Columbia suddenly decided to withdraw their support of Mr. Abbott’s appointment. BC had originally proposed Abbott’s name six months earlier, and upon agreement… Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre retires Parties reach milestone with Te’Mexw On April 1, 2015 Chief Commissioner Agreement-in-Principle signing Sophie Pierre completed her six-year April 9, 2015 marks an important day for the tenure with the BC Treaty Commission. southern Vancouver Island communities of Malahat, Scia’new (Beecher Bay), Snaw-naw-AS (Nanoose), Pierre was first appointed Chief Commissioner in Songhees and T’sou-ke (Sooke), and for the federal April 2009 by agreement between the three Principals, and provincial governments. The Treaty Commission the First Nations Summit, the Government of Canada congratulates the five communities that make up and the Government of British Columbia. the Te’Mexw Treaty Association, along with… Modern Treaty Self-Governance Forum First Nations Summit elects Celeste Haldane New Commissioner brings demonstrates value of sharing treaty experiences & Francis Frank as Treaty Commissioners first-hand knowledge From March 10 to 12, the Treaty Commission hosted On February 19, 2015 the First Nations Summit The Treaty Commission is pleased a three-day Modern Treaty Self Governance Forum in elected Celeste Haldane and Francis Frank as to welcome Tom Happynook as Vancouver, with a special focus on… Commissioners to serve two-year terms… the new provincial appointed… © BC Treaty Commission Spring 2015 upbreaking newsdate / / Treaty Commission responds to Province’s Unilateral Action As many of you know, the Treaty Commission was recently preparing for the transition of Active or completed negotiations involve 47 First Nations, representing 83 Indian Act Bands. This means that 41% Chief Commissioners, with the departure of Sophie Pierre and the arrival of a new Chief of all Indian Act Bands in BC are actively involved in Commissioner, former cabinet minister and MLA George Abbott. While in planning and treaty negotiations. transitional meetings for this upcoming year, the BCTC learned that the Government of $600 million is what the province is saying the treaty British Columbia suddenly decided to withdraw their support of Mr. Abbott’s appointment. negotiations have cost the British Columbian taxpayers, only to conclude four treaties. BC had originally proposed Abbott’s name six months Simply put, all three Principals have a legal commitment earlier, and upon agreement with the other two Principals, to the treaty negotiations process. To clarify, since May 1993, $627 million in negotiation the appointment moved forward in good faith. support funding has been allocated to 65 First Nations. By drawing focus to only a few key issues, specifically This breaks down to approximately $493 million in loans In fact, the First Nations Summit agreed to the appoint- the length of time, cost and number of treaties that First Nations will be repaying upon implementation ment during the Chiefs’ assembly in October 2014. concluded, the larger picture of what is at stake of their treaty, and $134 million in non-repayable in treaty negotiations is being ignored. contributions. This sudden unilateral decision to not appoint a Chief Commissioner is both surprising and troubling. “It also ignores the fact that Canada and BC’s own policies The federal government has contributed approximately The province has elaborated on this decision by saying and processes have been key factors in bogging down $80.4 million to treaty negotiations, and the provincial they will not be appointing a Chief Commissioner in the negotiations,” said former Chief Commissioner Sophie government has contributed $53.6 million. near future, and instead want to reevaluate the treaty Pierre in her Vancouver Sun Op-Ed. negotiations process with the other Principals. Although the Treaty Commission had hoped for an The investment in the treaty negotiations process orderly transition between Chief Commissioners, we It seems BC believes it can focus its attention on econom- continues to be trivialized with the misrepresentation will continue to operate within our mandate as the ic agreements over treaty negotiations, as if it is an either/ of the numbers. The province has said there are 50 independent facilitator for treaty negotiations. or issue. These economic agreements, which are interim First Nations currently in the treaty negotiations process, measures, were always intended to support treaty nego- out of approximately 200 in BC. This is incorrect. The Treaty Commission is fortunate to have two tiations. Many First Nations are in treaty negotiations to experienced Commissioners, Celeste Haldane and Jerry gain greater control over their economic opportunities. setting the record straight Lampert, who have agreed to take on the leadership role They are choosing treaty negotiations so self-governance for the Treaty Commission as Acting Chief Commissioner. and long-term economic sustainability become a reality There are 65 First Nations, representing 105 Indian Act Celeste Haldane will be Acting Chief Commissioner for for their citizens. Interim measures should not sidetrack Bands out of a total of 199 Indian Act Bands in BC, which April, followed by Commissioner Jerry Lampert for the or undermine the treaty negotiations process; short-term are participating in or which have completed treaties month of May. agreements do not replace long-term reconciliation. through the BC treaty negotiations process. © BC Treaty Commission update / Spring 2015 Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre retires On April 1, 2015 Chief Commissioner parties. We have something in place that can work, but enjoyed these we need a recommitment to make sure it works, particu- past six years Sophie Pierre completed her six-year larly from the Prime Minister and the Premier of British with the Treaty tenure with the BC Treaty Commission. Columbia,” said Chief Commissioner Pierre. Commission.” Sophie has been a First Nations leader in BC for numerous To work towards this recommitment to the treaty nego- “Thank you decades. Previous to working with the Treaty Commission, tiations process, Pierre established a consistent schedule to all of the Sophie served as the elected chief of St. Mary’s Indian of meetings with the three parties, outside of the regular Commissioners Band for 26 years and was the administrator and Nation Principals meetings. This included annual trips to Ottawa I have worked chair of the Ktunaxa/Kinbasket Tribal Council for 30 years. to meet with a variety of federal departments, and regu- with: Jerry lar sessions with MARR and Minister Rustad. Pierre also Lampert, Celeste Chief Commissioner strengthened communication to the Principals through Haldane, Tom Pierre held a co-chair quarterly reporting. Happynook, position with the First Francis Frank, Nations Summit, and was “It was important to bring to the attention of various Dan Smith, Dave a signatory to the historic federal departments that they have a Section 35 Haggard, Jody BC Treaty Commission responsibility to uphold the commitment that their Wilson Raybould, Agreement establishing the government has made. It was key to bring that message Robert Phillips, Treaty Commission in 1992. directly to Ottawa.” and Shana Manson,” added Pierre. “I appreciate their various perspectives and respect their dedication to Pierre was first appointed Sophie reminded them, “Treaties are between First Nations reconciliation through the treaty negotiations process.” Chief Commissioner in and the Government of Canada and the Government of April 2009 by agreement British Columbia. They are not with MARR or AANDC. “And of course, thank you to the staff of the BCTC for all between the three The whole government has a responsibility to fairly of their hard work. We have always had a small staff, in Principals, the First Nations Summit, the Government negotiate and honourably implement these treaties.” terms of numbers, but every year I am amazed by how of Canada and the Government of British Columbia. much we are able to accomplish. The quality of the 2014 chief commissioner farewells Annual Report and the Self Governance Forum in March a message of recommitment are two examples of the great work our small team can “First and foremost I would like to thank the Principals accomplish.” From the beginning, Sophie has had a clear message for having the confidence and the faith in me to do this to the Principals. job,” said Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre. “I am really Sophie entered full-time retirement in April. She is grateful for having had this opportunity, and for the looking forward to the birth of her fourth grandchild “My message has always been that we need a recommit- extension to my first term. Being Chief Commissioner in July, and to crossing some travel destinations off ment to the treaty negotiations process from all three has been challenging and rewarding, and I have so of her bucket list. © BC Treaty Commission update / Spring 2015 Treaty Commission embraces Parties reach milestone with Te’Mexw expanded mandate Agreement-in-Principle signing The Treaty Commission is encouraged with the release of the report by Ministerial Special Representative, Douglas R. April 9, 2015 marks an important day for the southern Eyford, on renewing the Comprehensive Land Claims Policy, Vancouver Island communities of Malahat, Scia’new A New Direction: Advancing Aboriginal and Treaty Rights. (Beecher Bay), Snaw-naw-AS (Nanoose), Songhees and T’sou-ke (Sooke), and for the federal and provincial BCTC considers Mr. Eyford’s recommendation that changes governments.