We are building a ‘New Relationship’ with First Nations in British Columbia founded on respect, recognition, and reconciliation of Aboriginal title and rights. All British Columbians benefit by closing the socio-economic gaps that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
We revitalized the treaty negotiation process by prioritizing and accelerating negotiations with First Nations who were closest to finalizing treaties and as a result have signed the first modern day treaties under the treaty negotiation process.
The first treaty signed was with the Tsawwassen First Nation, also representing the first urban treaty ever signed in British Columbia.
The second agreement is with five First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island under the Maa-Nulth Treaty.
We’ve reached the first-ever Incremental Treaty Agreement with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation and Klahoose First Nation, an innovative approach that provides real, tangible benefits to First Nations.
We’ve completed treaty negotiations with Yale First Nation - a major interim step, prior to the final treaty agreement being initialled by the Province, Yale First Nation and Canada.
We established the $100-million New Relationship Trust. These funds, managed by an independent board, support programs in education, capacity, culture & language, youth & elders, and economic development.
Signed land-use planning agreements with First Nations including the Haida, Squamish, and In-SHUCK-ch, and First Nations in the Morice planning area.
Contributing $30 million to the Coast Opportunities Fund directed toward First Nations involved in activities including fisheries, forestry and tourism along the central and north coast.
Signed agreements with more than 150 First Nations providing access to over 35 million cubic metres of timber and over $220 million in revenue sharing.
Providing $8.4 million to address mountain pine beetle impacts, and forestry agreements with 153 First Nations.
Together with BC Hydro, we’ve reached a final agreement with Kwadacha First Nation to redress historic damages inflicted over 40 years ago with the creation of the Bennett Dam and Williston reservoir.
Final resolution of a 90-year dispute was reached in 2008 with 22 First Nations regarding reserve land taken without their consent.
Committed $5 million to Aboriginal Tourism BC to increase tourism opportunities in First Nations communities.
Signed a 13-year Economic Benefit Agreement with Blueberry River First Nations providing annual revenue sharing and seven land and resource management agreements.
Aboriginal unemployment rates have dropped from 22.5 per cent in 2001, to 13.6 per cent in 2006 and 11.4 per cent in 2007.
We fulfilled our Throne Speech commitment to create an Aboriginal Youth Internship Program in the B.C. Public Service. In the first year of the program, 80 Aboriginal youth from across B.C. applied for 15 positions.
We’ve committed to building over 3500 housing units through our $50.9-million Aboriginal Housing Initiative. In 2001, there were only 430 units.
We’ve launched Canada’s first Tripartite First Nations Health Plan, held the 1st annual First Nations Health Forum, and funded a $6 million Aboriginal ActNow BC program.
Established two interim authorities to develop the framework to deliver services to Aboriginal children and families and are the first province to support Jordan’s Principle ensuring Aboriginal children receive the care they need and putting jurisdictional disputes over funding aside.
Aboriginal Education We are working to enhance Aboriginal student outcomes through partnering with First Nations to deliver a more culturally relevant curriculum that is community focused and reflects First Nations’ rich heritage.
Today’s Aboriginal high school completion rate is 47 per cent, up 5 points from 42 per cent in 2001.
We’ve increased total Aboriginal supplementary funding for K-12 from $48.1 million in 06/07 to $52.6 million in 09/10, the increase allows districts to provide cultural programs and additional academic support for Aboriginal students.
We’ve overseen the signing of 43 Aboriginal Education Enhancement Agreements (between the ministry, boards and First Nations). The Agreements are designed to enhance educational achievement of Aboriginal students.
We passed the First Nations Education Act in 2007 to give First Nations’ communities jurisdiction over schools on their reserves.
We developed a new English 12 First Peoples course with the FNESC, developed from a First Nations’ perspective using Aboriginal literature.
We’re currently developing similar courses for grades 10 and 11.
Approved the Halq’emeylem Second Language Curriculum in 2008, the 10th First Nations language curriculum to receive provincial approval.
We now provide tuition for students living off-reserve who are enrolled in independent band schools.
We’ve launched a $65-million Aboriginal post-secondary strategy to help Aboriginal students start, stay and succeed in post-secondary education and training by increasing scholarship opportunities, and funding Aboriginal-focused programs. View a video of Premier Gordon Campbell announcing the Aboriginal post-secondary education strategy
We’ve reduced financial barriers to post-secondary for Aboriginal students with $10.3 million in scholarships.
We’re providing $600,000 annually to the First Peoples’ Heritage, Language and Culture Council for projects meant to revitalize BC Aboriginal languages through documentation, language classes, immersion programs and curriculum development.
Economic Development We are working with First Nations to build their capacity so that Aboriginal communities can benefit from B.C.’s strong economy and employment opportunities.
We established the $100-million New Relationship Trust. These funds, managed by an independent board, support programs in five key areas: education, capacity, culture and language, youth & elders, and economic development.
We’ve signed forestry agreements with over 150 First Nations providing over $220 million in revenue sharing and access to more than 35 million cubic metres in timber since 2002.
We established a $15-million trust to support economic development, educational advancement, and cultural renewal for First Nations along the B.C. Rail Corridor.
We’ve signed economic benefit agreements with four Treaty 8 First Nations. These agreements provide an initial equity payment of $13.3 million and revenue-sharing payments between $3.4 million and $13.4 million per year for 15 years, facilitating participation in land and resource management in Northeastern B.C.
We’ve signed two treaties with six First Nations, providing economic development and self-sufficiency opportunities and enable First Nations to fully participate in regional economies, stimulating investment throughout B.C.
We reached a Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement with the Musqueam First Nation, which not only settles three outstanding court cases, but also provides cash and land valued at approximately $75 million to help the Musqueam build a stronger economic foundation and fully participate in the regional economy.
We reached an agreement valued at $31.5 million with the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations, settling a land claim on the site of the provincial legislature. The agreement provides the Nations with the capacity to add to their land base and pursue economic development.
We doubled the value of the First Citizens Fund to $72 million in 2001, providing greater opportunities for cultural, educational, and economic development for Aboriginal people.
We’ve provided $2.8 million to help train people from First Nations and rural communities for employment in the mining sector.
We’ve committed $5 million to Aboriginal Tourism BC to increase tourism opportunities for First Nations communities.
Aboriginal unemployment rates have dropped from 22.5 per cent in 2001, to 13.6 per cent in 2006 and 11.4 per cent in 2007.
Heritage Preservation We believe archaeological resources are of great value to First Nations, communities and all British Columbians and we are working to protect and conserve archaeological legacies while ensuring a fair process exists for private property owners.
Archaeological sites and oral tradition are the only vestiges of a rich history extending back at least 12,000 years.
The Heritage Conservation Act provides for the protection of B.C.’s valuable archaeological resources, located on both public and private land.
The Act prohibits the destruction, excavation or alteration of archaeological sites without a permit and allows the responsible minister to order a ‘heritage inspection’ to assess the archaeological significance of a piece of land.
The Act also provides automatic protection for archaeological sites on Crown and private lands, without requiring formal designation.
The provincial heritage registry currently holds more than 30,000 records of sites or objects that would fall into the category of archaeological site.
If there’s an archaeological site on your property it doesn’t automatically mean you cannot develop on it, there is a fair process in place and the first step is to apply for a permit and engage a professional archaeologist.
We’ve established a joint working group with the First Nations Leadership Council to improve heritage conservation specific to Aboriginal sites.
All Canadian provinces have similar legislation for protecting heritage resources, as do most countries worldwide.
We’ve provided $1.2 million to the Language and Culture Plan to preserve and promote Aboriginal languages.
We contributed $6 million to help build the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre, a world-class venue showcasing Squamish and Lil’wat cultures as well as Aboriginal cultures from across B.C. and Canada.
We contributed $4 million to the construction of the Haida Heritage Centre at Qay’llnagaay project, an international tourism destination showcasing Haida art and culture.
New Relationship We are building a ‘New Relationship’ with First Nations in British Columbia founded on respect, recognition, and reconciliation of Aboriginal title and rights. All British Columbians benefit by closing the socio-economic gaps that exist between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.
B.C. is home to 198 First Nation bands and band members who live in rural and urban communities away from their reserves. Aboriginal people (Métis, Inuit and First Nations) make up approximately four per cent of B.C.’s population
We began a New Relationship with First Nations and Aboriginal people in 2005 to address failures of the past, and is founded on reconciliation, recognition and respect.
We revitalized the treaty negotiation process by prioritizing and accelerating negotiations with First Nations who were closest to finalizing treaties.
In 2007, our government signed the first modern day treaty through the treaty negotiation process, and today we have signed modern-day treaties with six First Nations including the first urban treaty ever in B.C. with the Tsawwassen First Nation.
A number of other treaty negotiations are in the very final stages of deliberation prior to completion:
42 negotiating tables are in Stage 4, negotiating an Agreement-in-Principle.
4 negotiating tables are at Stage 5, negotiating a Final Agreement.
Major initiatives flowing from the New Relationship include:
We’ve transferred ownership of the UBC golf course, two parcels of land in Pacific Spirit Park, and the Bridge Point Casino land to the Musqueam, as well as a cash payment of $20.3 million. This agreement resolves three court cases and reconciles a long-standing claim.
Achieved final resolution of a 90-year dispute regarding reserve land taken from 22 First Nations without their consent. Substantial land and cash offers have been accepted by the final four bands.
We settled the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations’ claim worth $31 million relating to land in downtown Victoria including the B.C. Legislature.
Agreed with Tsay Key Dene Band and Kwadacha Nation to over $40 million in measures to address flooding impacts caused by the Bennett Dam.
We ensured that four murals located in the B.C. Legislative buildings have been covered and screened from public view. The murals depicted Aboriginal people in a subservient and demeaning manner and were not conducive to the New Relationship.
We’ve supported Aboriginal culture and heritage with $1.2 million for language revitalization and $3.5 million for 2008 North American Indigenous Games.
In November 2005, we signed the Transformative Change Accord with the government of Canada and the First Nations Leadership Council in Kelowna. The Accord is our commitment to close the gaps by 2015 in economic opportunities, education, health and housing. Actions stemming from the Accord include:
The signing of Education Jurisdiction Agreements with First Nations Education Steering Committee and the federal government, recognizing the right of First Nations to make decisions about the education of their children.
The development of the $65-million Aboriginal Post-Secondary Education Strategy to help Aboriginal students start, stay, and succeed in post-secondary education and training.
Recognizing First Nations’ authority, through education jurisdiction legislation, to make laws governing education on their land.
We hosted the first ever National Summit on Aboriginal Health and released the First Nations Health Plan containing initiatives that allow the Province and First Nations to work together to close health gaps by 2015.
We launched ActNow BC, including a $6 million program to promote Aboriginal health.
We’ve granted almost $60 million to create 292 housing units in 10 communities across the province under the Aboriginal Housing Initiative.
We signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord to close socio-economic gaps and provided $1.1 million to support the Accord.
Treaties We believe in negotiating treaties with First Nations to reconcile Aboriginal rights and title issues, improve quality of life, stimulate investment, establish certainty over land base, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities for all British Columbians.
We revitalized the treaty negotiation process by prioritizing and accelerating negotiations with First Nations who were closest to finalizing treaties.
We signed the first modern day treaty through the treaty negotiation process in 2007 with Tsawwassen First Nation. This was also the first urban treaty signed in the province.
To date, we’ve signed modern-day treaties with six First Nations under two agreements:
The Maa-nulth Treaty on the west coast of Vancouver Island is the first treaty involving multiple First Nations.
It enables the five First Nations to exercise self-government over their land base and defines their rights to resources such as fish, wildlife, and timber.
Provides a total of approximately 24,550 hectares of lands and $73.1 million.
Increases certainty on Vancouver Island and helps close the social and economic gaps by removing the restraints of the federal Indian Act, allowing for economic development, job creation, and investment.
Federal and provincial laws still apply on Maa-nulth lands.
More than half of the 198 First Nations bands, or two-thirds of all Aboriginal people in B.C., are represented at one of the 49 ongoing negotiations in the treaty process.
43 of the 49 negotiating tables are at the fourth of six stages, working toward an Agreement-in-Principle.
