Malahat Nation member Steven Henry presents PS Strahl with commemorative paddle at the Te'mexw Treaty Association Agreement-in-Principle signing
April 9, 2015 – Victoria, British Columbia – Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
Five Vancouver Island First Nations, the governments of B.C. and Canada reached a major reconciliation milestone in the B.C. treaty process with the signing of the Agreement-in-Principle.
Mark Strahl, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, the Honourable John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Chief Ron Sam, Songhees First Nation, Chief Russ Chipps, Beecher Bay First Nation, Chief Gordon Planes, T'Sou-ke First Nation, Chief Michael Harry, Malahat First Nation, and Chief David Bob, Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose) First Nation, signed the Agreement-in-Principle.
The Te'mexw Treaty Association Agreement-in-Principle includes provisions for approximately 1,565 hectares of Crown land and transfers of approximately $142 million including a land fund for the 5 First Nations once Final Agreements are reached.
The Agreement-in-Principle contains 27 chapters covering issues including governance, taxation and lands. Processes for transition from the Indian Act to self-government are also set out in the Agreement-in-Principle.
Incremental Treaty Agreements signed in 2013 between B.C. and the five Te'mexw Member First Nations provided for the early transfer of some lands. The second stage of these agreements will provide for the transfer of more lands to some of the Te'mexw Member First Nations as soon as possible after completing the Agreement-in-Principle.
Incremental Treaty Agreements allow First Nations to enjoy economic benefits in advance of a Final Agreement.
Ultimately, treaties provide First Nations with a comprehensive set of tools for self-government and participating in the economy, which in turn provides security and certainty on the land for all Canadians.
Emily Hillstrom
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development
819-997-0002
Media Relations
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada
819-953-1160
Edward Hill
B.C. Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250-812-2671
Yvon Gesinghaus
Treaty Coordinator
Te'mexw Treaty
Temexwadmin2@shaw.ca
250-889-9877
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