In what chief negotiator Robert Morales is calling a 91裸聊视频渟ignificant step91裸聊视频� the Hul91裸聊视频檘umi91裸聊视频檔um Treaty Group (HTG) on Vancouver Island announced Wednesday that the documents have been signed to move to Stage 5 91裸聊视频� the 91裸聊视频渇inal agreement91裸聊视频� step of BC Treaty Negotiations.

The move comes after nearly 20 years stalled at Stage 4. The Treaty Group represents the First Nations of the Cowichan Valley area.

91裸聊视频淭he B.C. Treaty process, when it was established in 91裸聊视频�93, developed six stages and the first three stages were fairly quick, but Stage 4 was the 91裸聊视频榓greement in principal91裸聊视频� stage and that91裸聊视频檚 where we91裸聊视频檝e been stuck for 20 years now,91裸聊视频� explained Morales. 91裸聊视频淢oving into a 91裸聊视频榝inal agreement91裸聊视频� stage means that we91裸聊视频檙e able to negotiate to enter into what I would term 91裸聊视频榬eal91裸聊视频� negotiation. We91裸聊视频檙e no longer talking about what might be, we91裸聊视频檙e now developing the final agreement, final treaty language and dealing with a lot of the issues we91裸聊视频檝e had in the past. It91裸聊视频檚 a significant step in the overall treaty process to be able to enter into the final treaty discussions and negotiations.91裸聊视频�

SEE RELATED:

Though it91裸聊视频檚 taken two decades to arrive at this point, Morales believes the process will now move forward more swiftly.

91裸聊视频淲e set a goal of four years,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚n the transition document itself there are a number of commitments that are made by the two levels of government [federal and provincial] and the HTG and their member nations.91裸聊视频�

Also, the set of guiding principals created for moving forward 91裸聊视频渋s a vast improvement91裸聊视频� over the way negotiations have been conducted up to this point, Morales noted.

91裸聊视频淭he new policy is a very significant improvement and a policy agreed to by both Canada and B.C.,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭he transition document makes reference to a number of different commitments by Canada and B.C. that really set the stage for the final agreement negotiations. If we91裸聊视频檙e able to implement all of that, I think it speaks to being able to move much more quickly.91裸聊视频�

SEE RELATED:

Morales credits the willingness of both the federal and provincial governments to work with the HTG for being able to escape Stage 4.

91裸聊视频淲e have for the first time some fairly congruent positions between the federal Liberal party and the (B.C.) NDP party so that made it a lot easier in terms of both levels of government being more agreeable to moving forward,91裸聊视频� he said.

As well, the member nations of the HTG (Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Lyackson First Nation and the Ts91裸聊视频檜ubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan First Nations) are all in support of moving forward so the time that would have been spent on community votes was saved.

The communities will have to vote on ratification of the final agreement eventually.

Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett said 91裸聊视频渢his new relationship is based on a recognition of rights. A rights recognition approach explicitly recognizes that Aboriginal rights are inherent and will not be extinguished or surrendered, and seeks to build a collaborative government-to-government relationship that is flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances over time.91裸聊视频�

Cowichan Tribes is the largest band in B.C. with more than 5,000 members.

91裸聊视频淎fter being in the treaty negotiation since 1993, this is a major step forward for our Hul91裸聊视频檘umi91裸聊视频檔um Nations,91裸聊视频� said Cowichan Chief William Seymour.

Other member First Nations chiefs agreed.

Chief Georgina Livingstone (Ts91裸聊视频檜ubaa-asatx [Lake Cowichan] First Nation) stated that she looks forward to continuing the work.

Chief Joan Brown of Penelakut Tribe said 91裸聊视频淭his signing represents an important step in the reconciliation process and hopes it is the beginning of a strong, respectful relationship in the future.91裸聊视频�

Chief Richard Thomas (Lyackson First Nation) said he 91裸聊视频渨as overwhelmed by the length of time it has taken to get here.91裸聊视频�

Chief Robert Thomas (Halalt First Nation) said 91裸聊视频淲e never relinquished our title to the land and that this treaty is for our future generations of children and grandchildren.91裸聊视频�

Morales, too, is pleased with the milestone and looks forward to the work ahead.

91裸聊视频淚t all speaks to a very much improved relationship between Canada, B.C., and First Nations.91裸聊视频�

sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
Like us on and follow us on