An Incremental Treaty Agreement between the Province and the Ktunaxa Nation Council will help restore the Lower Kootenay Band’s connection with Kootenay Lake and support a regional government initiative to redesign and extend the life of the Creston landfill.

The agreement provides for the transfer of about 176 hectares of Crown land in two parcels to the Lower Kootenay Band, one of four member bands of the Ktunaxa Nation Council.

One of the parcels, a waterfront property on Kootenay Lake, is of significant cultural importance to the Lower Kootenay Band, as it will re-establish the band’s direct connection to the lake, which was severed in the late 1800s with the establishment of Indian Reserves.

Completion of the agreement supports the treaty negotiation process with the Ktunaxa Nation Council, and it supports the cultural revitalization and economic development interests of the Lower Kootenay Band.

The Incremental Treaty Agreement is also one element of a larger solution to facilitate the redesign and long-term operation of the Creston landfill. The solution has been collaboratively developed by the Ktunaxa Nation Council, Lower Kootenay Band, Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK), Town of Creston and provincial and federal government agencies.

One condition of the agreement is for the Lower Kootenay Band to sell nine hectares of band reserve property to the regional district as part of the strategy to extend the life of the landfill. The band will hold a community referendum early in 2015 for its members to vote on whether to approve the sale.

The Province introduced Incremental Treaty Agreements to provide First Nations in the treaty process with earlier access to treaty benefits, in advance of a final agreement. The incremental agreements build trust among the parties, facilitate immediate development opportunities, advance treaty negotiations and provide increased certainty over land and resources.

Quotes:

Jason Louie, Chief, Lower Kootenay Band —

“Through the co-operation of the Province, Regional District of Central Kootenay, Ktunaxa Nation Council, Lower Kootenay Band and the federal government, our local Aboriginal community will have the long awaited homecoming to Kootenay Lake. This is a very monumental moment in our history.”

Kathryn Teneese, chair of the Ktunaxa Nation Council —

“This agreement presents a tremendous opportunity not just for Ktunaxa, but for other governments and businesses to work together to foster a positive economic environment that benefits all residents in the Ktunaxa Territory. I’d like to commend all parties who worked very hard to ensure that this agreement reflected the strong cultural, social and environmental commitments we hold as Ktunaxa people.”

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation —

“I visited Ktunaxa territory in May and learned first-hand about the long and deep connection they have to Kootenay Lake. This Incremental Treaty Agreement provides an opportunity for the Lower Kootenay Band to reconnect to land on the shores of the lake, and we support their efforts as we move forward in this partnership.”

John Kettle, chair of the RDCK —

“On behalf of the Regional District of Central Kootenay I wish to congratulate all parties for making this effort a reality. The working relationship forged with the Federal, Provincial, Ktunaxa Nation and local government is a testament to the new paradigms of this century. It is incumbent on us all to ensure for future generations that the opportunity for economic and social growth for the Ktunaxa Nation parallels those of the rest of society, ensuring equal benefits for all parties while recognizing the diversity of all of our citizens. This is a great day for us all.”

Garry Jackman, RDCK director Area A, and chair of the RDCK East Resource Recovery Committee —

“The process we have gone through as various orders of government has resulted in two very important outcomes for the communities which we represent.  We have come to a sensible solution to enable long-term operation of a very efficient landfill site, plus we have assisted the community of the Lower Kootenay Band in securing culturally significant land along Kootenay Lake.”

Quick Facts:

• Ktunaxa Nation Council represents about 1,200 Ktunaxa Nation members in four communities: St. Mary’s, Tobacco Plains, Lower Kootenay and Akisq’nuk.
• The Incremental Treaty Agreement provides for the early transfer of two proposed treaty land parcels prior to the effective date of the final agreement with the Ktunaxa Nation.
• One parcel is about three hectares of Crown land known as Burden’s Cut, located on the south arm of Kootenay Lake about 45 km north of Creston. The other Crown parcel is adjacent to the first, and is about 173 hectares.
• B.C. is a partner with the Ktunaxa Nation in 19 agreements, initiatives and protocols, including a revenue-sharing agreement linked to new coal mines in the Elk Valley and a Strategic Engagement Agreement to set out a government-to-government relationship with provincial agencies.

Learn More:

To see the Ktunaxa Nation Incremental Treaty Agreement (Creston), visit: www.ow.ly/DwbA1

For information on the Ktunaxa Nation, visit: www.ktunaxa.org

For information on the Lower Kootenay Band, visit: www.lowerkootenay.com

For information on the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, visit: www.gov.bc.ca/arr

Media Contacts:

Lisa Leslie
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 213-7724
lisa.leslie@gov.bc.ca

Jesse Nicholas
Communications Manager
Ktunaxa Nation Council
250 489-2464 ext 3175
JNicholas@ktunaxa.org

Curtis Wullum
Lower Kootenay Band
250 428-6394
cwullum@kootenay.com