Land transfers under an Incremental Treaty Agreement (ITA) will create significant economic opportunities for Homalco Indian Band.

Approximately 826 hectares on Sonora Island and East Thurlow Island off the east coast of Vancouver Island will be transferred as part of the ITA that provides benefits to Homalco Indian Band in advance of treaty.

The land will be transferred in three stages:

• Following signing of the ITA, approximately 352 hectares of land at Cameleon Harbour, Thurston Bay and Owen Bay.
• When Homalco Indian Band approves their treaty Agreement-in-Principle, approximately 180 hectares of land at Hemming Bay and Crawford Anchorage.
• When the Homalco Final Agreement is initialled, approximately 295 hectares of land at Young Passage.

The Homalco Indian Band owns and operates Homalco Forestry LP and a bear viewing business, Homalco Wildlife Tours Inc. These land transfers will allow the First Nation to build on current business opportunities and provide new business and training opportunities for their members.

The Province introduced ITAs in order to accelerate the treaty process, by providing First Nations in the treaty process with earlier access to treaty benefits, in advance of a final agreement. ITAs build trust among the parties, create incentives to reach further milestones and provide increased certainty over land and resources. The Homalco ITA is B.C.’s 16th incremental treaty agreement.

Quotes:

Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation John Rustad -

“The opportunities these land transfers will create for the Homalco Indian Band through their ITA demonstrate the partnership that the provincial government and First Nations undertake on the journey towards treaty. I look forward to continuing this partnership and to seeing the tourism and forestry businesses of Homalco flourish in the future.”

Homalco Indian Band Chief Richard Harry -

“Homalco has worked hard over the past 20 years to build a successful forestry company.  This Incremental Treaty Agreement will allow Homalco to realize our vision of integrated resource management that will provide long term sustainable jobs and income to our people.  This is a huge step forward in our treaty process and paves the way for a successful treaty with BC and Canada”.

Quick Facts:

• Homalco’s main reserve is located just south of Campbell River.
• Homalco Indian Band is a member of the Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council, which also includes the First Nations of Halalt, Klahoose, Malahat, Nanoose, Tla’amin, Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, T’sou-ke, Tsawwassen and Tsleil-Waututh.
• An incremental treaty agreement is not a replacement for full treaty. It is a pre-final treaty agreement, which provides immediate benefits, that will be incorporated into the final treaty agreement
• Treaties are B.C.'s preferred approach to addressing reconciliation, removing First Nations from the constraints of the federal Indian Act and providing them with a comprehensive set of tools for self-government and participating in the economy.
• By bringing certainty to land and resource rights, treaties maximize opportunities for economic development and job creation for First Nations and all British Columbians.
• A 2009 report by PricewaterhouseCoopers estimated that completing two treaties per year over the next 15 years could result in $5.14 billion in net benefits to First Nations, as well as boost the provincial economy by $3.2 billion through investment, job creation and economic development.
• In British Columbia there are three modern treaties in effect with seven First Nations:
  • The Nisga'a Treaty - B.C.'s first modern treaty.
  • The Tsawwassen First Nation treaty - the first treaty under the BC Treaty Commission process and B.C.'s first urban treaty.
  • The Maa-nulth treaty - the first treaty on Vancouver Island and the first multi-nation treaty, with five First Nations.
  • Yale First Nation and the Tla'amin Nation also have fully ratified final agreements, and both are working towards their treaty Effective Dates.

Learn More:

For more information on Incremental Treaty Agreements:
http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/topic.page?id=21099B139A554865A42119D551BF046B

Media Contacts:

Corinna Filion
Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 953-3211