YO!News February 12, 2016 Treaty Update The Treaty Team has been pretty busy in 2016. This is a time when meetings are held to strategize for the coming year and a time to report on the previous year. Highlights include: Chief Negotiator Meeting Maintable Negotiations Treaty Related Measure (TRM) – Archaeology/Digital Map and historic digital film presentation Summit Meeting Chief and Council Governance Meeting Chief Negotiators Meeting Chief Negotiators from around the Province met to put a presentation together for the new Minister of Indigenous Affairs, Carolyn Bennett. The goal was to explain that the land issue/negotiations cannot be seen as they are in the rest of Canada. Here in BC we have a BC Treaty process to deal with our long standing battle for recognition and respect of our rights and title to our lands and territories, most of which were ‘not treatied’ like the rest of Canada. We also ‘hammered’ home that there must be loan forgiveness. We should/will not have to repay loans that were taken to negotiate a treaty. All BC Chief Negotiators agreed on these two main points, plus others (which I can explain in more detail at a future meeting in our community). Maintable The G-N N Treaty Team met with Canada and the BC Government to receive another “offer” toward a land/cash agreement. Instead of an offer, and 3 months later than promised, the Government could not put anything on the “table” saying our needs/requests are so high that they have to get a new “mandate”. They are saying that they need to seek approval from the ‘Ministers’ for higher amounts of land and cash to ‘offer’ back to the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw ‘Nakwaxda’xw Nations. ‘Side Tables’ and Treaty Related Measures are offered to continue to find ways to move our negotiations forward. We will work on areas such as: Fish, Forestry, Re-building building in the Homelands, Housing and our Bighouse, to gain the momentum needed to meet our community needs as early as possible in this Treaty negotiation process.
worked on several TRMs. Most of the work was to do with the Homelands such as doing surveys to find out more about wha what is on the land should G-N N chose to re re-build there. What/where are natural resources such as forestry, berry picking, and potential eco-tourism tourism sites should our people chose to live and work there to support their families in the future. Another study that was carried out was an archaeology study looking at what life was like in villages hundreds and thousands of years ago and heritage areas that need protection and will serve to educate future generations of our children when they wish to learn more about out where and how their ancestors lived. In the second week in March our TRM teams are going to set up displays and report out on what they have found and learned. This event will be similar to the one done two weeks ago at the Elders Centre when members learned about recent archeological findings,viewed newly created digital maps, and watched films of interviews with our Elders. Members were also treated to the first release of Triston Swain doing a powerful music video displaying his amazing talent. Summit Meeting The Treaty Team attended a Summit meeting last week where we gained knowledge about the negotiation challenges with the new federal government. We also had a report from the Sliammon First Nation to hear how implementation of their treaty is proceeding. Chief and Council Governance Sessions Since December’s three-day day workshop on Governance with Chief and Council, a follow-up up meeting was held mid mid-January to continue training on governance topics. These topics include, for example, role off hereditary system, roles of elected councillors, etc. The next monthly meeting on governance with Chief and Council will take place next week. Future Planning The Treaty Team will work together with Chief and Council and Trust to develop a communicat communications plan. Two members of the community will be hired and trained to help to meet communication needs. In addition to Yo News, the trainees will plan on and hold meetings including family and large meetings; do website updates, create social media sites such as Facebook, and much more. The Treaty Team are happy to work with Trust and the G G-N Administration to find ways to effectively communicate plans and activities together with members so that we can all move ahead with clear understanding and common purpose for all the G-N N members now and into a positive future. Watch for the job posting for the Communication trainees in early-mid March. Gila’kasla Prepared by: Colleen Hemphill, Chief Negotiator
Treaty Related Measures (TRMs) A part of negotiations that does help to move us forward is TRMs. These involve grants based on proposals we send to INAC (Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada). Last year we PAGE 1
GWA’SALA-’NAKWAXDA’XW ’NAKWAXDA’XW NATIONS YO! NEWS
12/02/2016