The Treaty Review Team is consulting on a government-to-government basis with potentially affected First Nations’ in the Columbia Basin, with the objective to avoid further impacts to aboriginal rights and title and to support the Province’s commitment to building relationships towards reconciliation with First Nations.

The consultation is an opportunity for the Province as well as the Federal government to engage with Columbia Basin First Nations to understand and consider the full spectrum of interests and values related to the Columbia River Treaty. The consultation seeks to identify and receive input on potential impacts of the Columbia River Treaty decision options and, where possible and practicable, to develop measures to address First Nations’ concerns in relation to the various options.

Throughout the Treaty Review process, the impact of reservoirs on archaeological resources has been identified as an area of concern by all First Nations in the Basin. In order to better understand the challenges around identification and management of archaeological resources in the reservoirs, the Columbia River Treaty Review team is organizing an archeology workshop in fall 2013. The workshop will bring together First Nations, archaeologists, academics and provincial agencies to explore issues and solutions for the archaeological resources of the Columbia River Treaty reservoirs.