YALE FIRST NATION, B.C. —The Chief Negotiators of Yale First Nation, British Columbia and Canada today initialled the Yale Final Agreement, marking a significant step forward in bringing certainty and economic prosperity to the community.
"The Yale people have been in the Fraser Canyon for more than nine thousand years leading up to this moment," said Yale First Nation Chief Robert Hope. "This agreement gives us our life, our freedom and confirms our land. The certainty it brings provides a solid economic foundation upon which to build for future generations of Yale members."
"Initialling this Agreement demonstrates Canada's commitment to find common solutions through negotiation," said Minister Strahl. "It also shows the B.C. treaty process is producing results. Yale First Nation will have the tools and authority to take control of its future, to build a healthy, prosperous and strong community, and to contribute to a stronger Canada."
The Final Agreement contains provisions for self-government, financial and land transfers. The land component will consist of approximately 1,966 hectares of Treaty Settlement Lands, made up of 217 hectares of former Indian reserves and 1,749 hectares of Crown lands owned in fee simple. In addition to this, approximately 21 hectares of provincial Crown land that is currently designated as Agricultural Land Reserve, will be transferred to Yale First Nation as Yale First Nation Land. This designation will not change except in accordance with the province's Agricultural Land Commission Act.
In addition, Yale First Nation will receive a capital transfer of $10.7 million and economic development funding of $2.2 million. The treaty provides mineral rights, forestry and domestic fish resources, as well as gathering and harvesting rights, within a context spelled out in the treaty. Yale First Nation's access to commercial fishing opportunities for Fraser River sockeye and pink salmon are outside of treaty in a separate Harvest Agreement.
"Today's announcement, the latest in a series of significant agreements negotiated recently with First Nations in B.C., is a celebration of the spirit of the New Relationship," said Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister George Abbott. "This treaty will be the foundation upon which Yale members can realize self-government and economic certainty, and will help to close the social and economic gaps between Yale and their non-Aboriginal neighbours. I congratulate Chief Hope for his commitment to negotiations and his vision for a brighter future for his community."
Through self-government, treaty First Nations realize the means to make decisions about matters that affect them, such as health, education and child welfare. Self-government may also include the ability of Aboriginal governments to raise revenues (e.g., fees and taxation), to manage lands and resources on lands, and to negotiate with other governments on such matters as joint service delivery and economic development.
As part of the negotiation process, agreements are initialled by chief negotiators and then voted on by eligible First Nation members to ratify. Once ratified, the Final Agreement will be introduced as legislation in the provincial and federal parliaments.
Yale First Nation entered the BC treaty process in April 1994. In March 2006, Yale First Nation and the governments of British Columbia and Canada signed an Agreement-in-Principle, laying the foundation for final agreement negotiations. Yale First Nation has approximately 150 members. Their traditional territory and reserve land are located within the Fraser Valley Regional District just north of Hope.
