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 a table to Stage 5 this year, demonstrating that treaty negotiations are keeping pace with other government policy initiatives,” said Chief Commissioner Celeste Haldane. “The Ktunaxa peoples has been rebuilding their nation through treaty negotiations, and reaching this milestone shows that their hard work is paying off.”
KKTC is a multi-community First Nation representing four communities: ?Akisq’nuk (Columbia Lake), ʔAq̓am (St. Mary’s Indian Band), ʔAkink̓umǂasnuqǂiʔit (Tobacco Plains Band), and Yaqan Nuykiy (Lower Kootenay Band). There are approximately 1,120 KKTC members, with traditional territory including the Kootenay, Flathead, and Columbia River watersheds within the area that extends from the Arrow and Kinbasket Lakes east to the Alberta border.
Chief Commissioner Celeste Haldane and Commissioner Tanya Corbet were in attendance last week to witness the signing. For more information and to read the MOU, visit BC Gov News.