On October 24, the government of British Columbia introduced Bill-41 to the Legislative Assembly – historic legislation to provincially implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UN Declaration). The Treaty Commission supports this bill and is optimistic that it will have positive impacts for treaty negotiations and implementation in BC.  The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act was developed with the Leadership Council, as directed by Indigenous...

With the signing of the Agreement to Revitalize K’ómoks First Nation Treaty Negotiations, K’omoks  First Nation, Canada, and British Columbia embrace a new approach to negotiations based in rights recognition and non-extinguishment. The agreement is guided in part by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, along with other influential policy documents.     Through the agreement, the parties commit to a...

The Treaty Commission acknowledges the federal government for eliminating outstanding treaty negotiations loans in the Budget 2019: Investing in the Middle Class to Grow Canada’s Economy.  “The Treaty Commission has long advocated for the elimination of loans in treaty negotiations. It is encouraging to see this issue finally being addressed and demonstrates real progress towards reconciliation,” said Chief Commissioner Celeste Haldane. Treaty loan elimination, contribution-only funding,...

Congratulations to Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Council (KKTC) and the governments of Canada and British Columbia on the signing of the Ktunaxa Nation Rights Recognition and Core Treaty Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).  The MOU is a unique approach to expediting negotiations and advancing the treaty table based on a rights recognition approach. The MOU also sets out the intentions of the parties to develop a “core” treaty with supplemental side agreements.  “This is the second MOU transitioning...