Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Nov . 13, 2011
There is no more urgent or important goal for our government than ensuring British Columbians have access to the jobs and other economic opportunities needed to support their families. Under Premier Christy Clark we are taking a hard look at how we can unlock economic opportunities through partnerships between First Nations, private investors and B.C. communities to generate jobs for all British Columbians. Partnerships with First Nations are poised to unleash major economic benefits for British Columbia and increase capacity and opportunities in First Nations communities. The question is how can we get to those benefits sooner.
On Nov. 7, I was honoured to speak in the Tsawwassen First Nation Legislature - a parliament that exists today because the First Nation took the bold step years ago to negotiate and implement B.C.'s first urban, modern-day treaty.
Tsawwassen First Nation is a shining example of what treaty can accomplish. In the two-and-a-half years since implementing their treaty, Chief Kim Baird has secured significant investment and commitment to create jobs for Tsawwassen families and their neighbours.
But we know they had to wait a long time for those benefits and that is why we need to develop more and better ways of building economic partnerships, faster. The truth is, treaties in B.C. haven't come together as quickly as we'd like. Many have been in negotiations for more than a decade. We need to see benefits faster and more often, all over the province.
We can't ask First Nations to wait indefinitely for economic benefits through treaty and, frankly, we can't afford to miss out on the opportunities they afford all British Columbians.
In the BC Jobs Plan, the provincial government committed to 10 new non-treaty agreements by 2015. What will they look like?
We have developed a range of tools that allow us to be flexible in our approach. These include Reconciliation Protocols, Incremental Treaty Agreements, Strategic Engagement Agreements, Economic Benefits Agreements, Revenue Sharing Agreements and innovative government-to-government agreements. These agreements are creating real progress outside the treaty process - new jobs, new economic opportunities and brighter futures. And they allow First Nations that feel they are not yet ready to negotiate a treaty to begin realizing the benefits of shared economic agreements with the Province.
For example, Strategic Engagement Agreements build relationships, strengthen investment, and act as a step towards treaty. In July, Taku River Tlingit First Nation signed a Strategic Engagement Agreement that creates new protected areas while also providing resource development opportunities and investment certainty in northwestern B.C.
In fact, we are putting land and governance opportunities on the table earlier in the process, to build momentum in negotiations and to show First Nations communities that there is a benefit to working in partnership with the Province.
We are working with First Nations who have chosen not to engage in treaty negotiations at this time - and with those who are already in treaty negotiations - to pursue other agreements that will bring benefits to their communities or bring them earlier in the process. Some will lead to a treaty; others will not.
Too often when we talk about negotiations with First Nations we hear about conflict, about the length of time it takes to get an agreement. We focus on the things that stand in the way of achieving consensus, instead of focusing on the importance of what we are trying to achieve and what has already been accomplished in cooperation with First Nations.
The provincial government still believes that treaty is valuable because of the certainty it provides on the land base; for the opportunities it provides to communities for self-governance that makes possible self-determination and a future they choose - and for reconciling rights and title. But there are many paths to reconciliation that will bring economic and social benefits to First Nations families and other British Columbians. The fact is agreements with First Nations provide opportunities and generate jobs - for families.
B.C. will continue to focus on achieving agreements with First Nations that create greater success and certainty for everyone, with the full knowledge that this government's long-term goal is to have a treaty with any and all First Nations that desire one. In the meantime, we are working with First Nations leaders now to achieve the full economic potential of B.C. for all our families. Contact:
Maria Wilkie
Communications Director
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 953-3211
