Canada, British Columbia and the First Nations Summit welcome new BC-specific policy to support treaty negotiations in BC

VICTORIA, Sept. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, and the First Nations Summit have collaboratively developed a Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia.

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, the Honourable Scott Fraser, British Columbia's Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, and First Nations Summit Political Executive leaders Cheryl Casimer and Robert Phillips jointly released a new policy approach for treaty negotiations in BC.

This BC-specific policy supports a recognition of rights-based approach to treaty negotiations that is suited to the unique context of treaty negotiations in British Columbia, and will help advance innovations in treaty-making. A central feature of the BC-specific policy is basing negotiations on the recognition and continuation of rights without those rights being modified, surrendered or extinguished when a treaty is signed. The policy, co-developed by the Principals to the BC treaty process — Canada, the First Nations Summit and British Columbia — also provides guidance for how treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements are to be negotiated in a manner consistent with the Constitution and provincial and federal commitments to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in BC as well as customary international law and Indigenous laws and legal orders.

The new policy will enable flexible, innovative and collaborative approaches that improve how treaties are reached in BC.

Under this new policy, treaty negotiations start from a place where the federal and provincial governments recognize the inherent right to self-determination and where negotiation mandates are co-developed. This sets a foundation for the federal, BC and Indigenous governments to work together to advance the reconciliation of Indigenous and Crown titles and jurisdictions required by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

Quotes

"The Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia is an example of what is possible when partners work together to advance rights recognition in a spirit of respect and cooperation. I look forward to the next steps we take together for First Nations on their path to self-determination."

The Honourable Carolyn Bennett, M.D., P.C., M.P.
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations

"The Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia provides for the recognition of Indigenous title and rights, including the inherent right of self-determination of Indigenous nations participating in the BC treaty negotiations framework. Full and final agreements are no longer required, and the policy importantly acknowledges that rights will evolve over time. These and other provisions will go a long way towards turning the page on the legacy of Crown denial to a new nation-to-nation relationship based on the recognition of rights, reconciliation and respect."

Cheryl Casimer
Political Executive, First Nations Summit

"This new policy reflects significant work with our partners in the BC treaty process to renew treaty-making in BC, with a focus on lasting government-to-government relationships that recognize the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples and have the ability to grow and change over time. We want to give negotiating tables more flexibility to take new and innovative approaches that will lead to successful treaties, which are one of the important paths to advancing meaningful reconciliation together."

The Honourable Scott Fraser
British Columbia Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation

"The new policy rejects formulaic and one size fits all approaches in favour of the co-development of mandates by federal, provincial and First Nation Chief Negotiators and the parties have committed to addressing longstanding issues. We look forward to the breakthroughs that should result from these long-awaited innovations."

Robert Phillips
Political Executive, First Nations Summit

Quick Facts

• The BC-specific policy, which was collaboratively developed between the First Nations Summit, Canada and the Province of BC, provides greater flexibility to develop agreements in an incremental or staged way.
• The policy includes commitments to address shared or overlapping territories, and to respect the rights of Indigenous groups not participating in the BC treaty process.
• The new policy builds on the work the Multilateral Engagement report from 2016 and the December 2018 Principals Accord.
• In 1992, a made-in-BC treaty negotiations process was created to guide negotiations in British Columbia. Since then, 11 First Nations in BC have reached modern treaties with self-government and 28 First Nations groups are currently in the advanced stages of negotiation.

Related Products

• Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia

Associated Links

• Exploring New Ways of Working Together
• National Engagement on the Recognition of Indigenous Rights
  Principles Respecting the Government of Canada's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples
• United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

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Backgrounder

THE RECOGNITION AND RECONCILIATION OF RIGHTS POLICY FOR TREATY NEGOTIATIONS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Historical Context
In 1992, a made-in-British Columbia treaty negotiations process was created to guide negotiations in British Columbia. For years, Canada, the First Nations Summit and the Province of British Columbia have been working collaboratively to strengthen and improve treaty negotiations, advance reconciliation and make progress on concluding agreements in British Columbia within the BC treaty process.

The Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia was made possible due to this pre-existing, tripartite relationship between Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the First Nations Summit. The parties share the same goals to improve treaty negotiations in British Columbia.

With both the federal government and the Province of British Columbia committing to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 Calls to Action, the parties recognized the opportunity to make profound improvements to how treaty negotiations are approached in British Columbia.

Policy Highlights
The new BC-specific policy captures ongoing work and new innovations at negotiation tables across British Columbia. It also builds on the work of the 2016 "Multilateral Engagement process" and the more recent "Principals Accord" and draws on the experience gained by the negotiating parties since treaty negotiations began.

This BC-specific policy supports an approach to treaty negotiations based on the recognition of rights. A central feature of the BC-specific policy is that negotiations recognize the continuation of rights without modification, surrender or extinguishment when a treaty is reached. Under the BC-specific policy, future treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements will set out guidelines for reconciling Crown and Indigenous rights based on co-existence that can evolve over time. It also provides greater flexibility to develop agreements incrementally in British Columbia.

Policy Application
This policy is specific to groups negotiating treaties under the British Columbia treaty negotiations framework, and does not apply to other Indigenous groups negotiating with Canada or British Columbia, who may be engaged in other reconciliation processes.

SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)

media may contact: Matthew Dillon-Leitch, Director of Communications, Office of the Honourable, Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, 819-997-0002; Media Relations, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, 819-934-2302, [email protected]; Sarah Plank, Media Relations, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, 250-208-9621; Colin Braker, Communications Director, First Nations Summit, [email protected], 604-926-9903

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