Indigenous Nations to Participate as Observers in Negotiations

On April 24, 2019, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chrystia Freeland, visited Castlegar, B.C. to meet with B.C. Minister Katrine Conroy and representatives of the Indigenous Nations of the B.C. Columbia Basin. Minister Freeland came to deliver good news, in a move that she rightly called historic: From now on, representatives of the Ktunaxa, Syilx/Okanagan, and Secwepemc Nations will participate as official observers at the Canada-U.S. Columbia River Treaty negotiations.

Okanagan Nation Alliance Chair, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, characterized the decision as “courageous but overdue and necessary” while also acknowledging that the federal government’s decision was “bold” and “unprecedented.”

Ktunaxa Nation Council Chair, Kathryn Teneese, noted that the move was “very significant” and part of “small but meaningful steps… on the road to reconciliation.”

Shuswap Nation Tribal Council Tribal Chief, Kukpi7 Wayne Christian, was also pleased by the decision, adding that it “moves us further down the path of reconciliation.”

Minister Conroy joined the Columbia Basin Indigenous leaders in applauding the move, calling it “an important and unprecedented next step in demonstrating our commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and to our journey towards reconciliation.”

When the Columbia River Treaty was drafted half a century ago, Indigenous Nations were not consulted at all.  Much has changed since then. The governments of B.C. and Canada have been engaging with Basin Indigenous Nations since 2012 to better understand how to address Indigenous interests, and Aboriginal rights regarding the Treaty. Since February 2018, Canada, B.C. and Indigenous Nation representatives have been meeting regularly to determine Indigenous Nations' participation in negotiations, and to collaborate on developing negotiation positions and strategies. Now, with the Nations in the room as the negotiations happen, and actively participating in break-out sessions during the course of the negotiation meetings, their role has become even more direct. As Minister Conroy pointed out, “the relationship has been strengthened.”