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From the T/C.
The province plans to introduce a sweeping bill that would recognize the existence of First Nations as the original inhabitants of B.C., with their own laws, governments, territories and title to land.
Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong is expected to bring the Recognition and Reconciliation Act to the legislature this month. It gives First Nations the right to make decisions and share in revenues from their traditional land, so they would benefit from mining, forestry, fisheries and other economic development. It also envisions an aboriginal council working on equal footing with the provincial government.
"I think if we do this together, it will represent change on a seismic scale," said de Jong, in a speech yesterday to the First Nations Summit, meeting in Victoria.
Recognition of rights and title would mean that, during lawsuits, the federal and provincial governments could no longer use arguments that deny the existence of First Nations.
"This would recognize that aboriginal rights exist throughout the province without proof of claim," de Jong said. "You should not be required to stand in court and call evidence of your rich history and culture and centuries of presence in this part of the world."
That recognition should speed up treaties and court cases, saving millions of dollars for First Nations.
At the root of the planned legislation is an 1859 declaration by B.C. governor James Douglas that the province's lands were unoccupied and all land in B.C, and minerals beneath the land, belonged to the Crown.
"It's not true. It wasn't true and we need to change that," de Jong said. "I think that opportunity is now, but we have to do it together. We have to lock arms and agree that this is the time, this is the place and this is the measure we can take."
Summit chiefs yesterday followed the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and B.C. Assembly of First Nations and voted in favour of working toward the new legislation.
Chiefs will talk to the government about drafting details, said Ed John, grand chief of the First Nations Summit. After 150 years of repression, there is still skepticism about government's commitment, but most chiefs are optimistic, he said. "This means that First Nations should be able to benefit from resource development in their territory," he said.
The whole province was, at one time, Indian territory, so the sweep is provincewide, John said.
A discussion paper on the proposed legislation, circulated among chiefs of B.C.'s 203 First Nations last month, sets out broad concepts, with details still to be worked out. One contentious issue is a suggestion that First Nations be reconstituted with 30 indigenous governments -- instead of 203 -- based on history and geography.
Hupacasath Chief Judith Sayers questioned the need for reconstitution, but de Jong said legislation will not dictate how First Nations are configured.
About 150 years ago, Canada re-organized First Nations on an arbitrary basis, said de Jong, who admitted it would be easier to deal with 30 groups instead of 203. "The leadership has indicated a strong desire and preference for moving back to traditional alignments of approximately 30 indigenous nations that existed before contact," he said.
Guujaw, president of the Council of Haida Nation, said the bill represents a change of heart for government. "It's a far cry from where we were when the notion was to exchange all our titles for treaties -- last week," he said.
Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said every government in Canada will look carefully at the B.C. bill. "I know the federal government will be under considerable pressure if this proposal … makes it through the legislature," he said.
From a rocky start, Premier Gordon Campbell has evolved into one of the most supportive premiers in the country, Fontaine said. "He came to the realization that B.C. wasn't going to progress without First Peoples as an integral part," he said.
Bravo!!!
Take only what you need.
The province plans to introduce a sweeping bill that would recognize the existence of First Nations as the original inhabitants of B.C., with their own laws, governments, territories and title to land.
Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong is expected to bring the Recognition and Reconciliation Act to the legislature this month. It gives First Nations the right to make decisions and share in revenues from their traditional land, so they would benefit from mining, forestry, fisheries and other economic development. It also envisions an aboriginal council working on equal footing with the provincial government.
"I think if we do this together, it will represent change on a seismic scale," said de Jong, in a speech yesterday to the First Nations Summit, meeting in Victoria.
Recognition of rights and title would mean that, during lawsuits, the federal and provincial governments could no longer use arguments that deny the existence of First Nations.
"This would recognize that aboriginal rights exist throughout the province without proof of claim," de Jong said. "You should not be required to stand in court and call evidence of your rich history and culture and centuries of presence in this part of the world."
That recognition should speed up treaties and court cases, saving millions of dollars for First Nations.
At the root of the planned legislation is an 1859 declaration by B.C. governor James Douglas that the province's lands were unoccupied and all land in B.C, and minerals beneath the land, belonged to the Crown.
"It's not true. It wasn't true and we need to change that," de Jong said. "I think that opportunity is now, but we have to do it together. We have to lock arms and agree that this is the time, this is the place and this is the measure we can take."
Summit chiefs yesterday followed the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs and B.C. Assembly of First Nations and voted in favour of working toward the new legislation.
Chiefs will talk to the government about drafting details, said Ed John, grand chief of the First Nations Summit. After 150 years of repression, there is still skepticism about government's commitment, but most chiefs are optimistic, he said. "This means that First Nations should be able to benefit from resource development in their territory," he said.
The whole province was, at one time, Indian territory, so the sweep is provincewide, John said.
A discussion paper on the proposed legislation, circulated among chiefs of B.C.'s 203 First Nations last month, sets out broad concepts, with details still to be worked out. One contentious issue is a suggestion that First Nations be reconstituted with 30 indigenous governments -- instead of 203 -- based on history and geography.
Hupacasath Chief Judith Sayers questioned the need for reconstitution, but de Jong said legislation will not dictate how First Nations are configured.
About 150 years ago, Canada re-organized First Nations on an arbitrary basis, said de Jong, who admitted it would be easier to deal with 30 groups instead of 203. "The leadership has indicated a strong desire and preference for moving back to traditional alignments of approximately 30 indigenous nations that existed before contact," he said.
Guujaw, president of the Council of Haida Nation, said the bill represents a change of heart for government. "It's a far cry from where we were when the notion was to exchange all our titles for treaties -- last week," he said.
Phil Fontaine, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, said every government in Canada will look carefully at the B.C. bill. "I know the federal government will be under considerable pressure if this proposal … makes it through the legislature," he said.
From a rocky start, Premier Gordon Campbell has evolved into one of the most supportive premiers in the country, Fontaine said. "He came to the realization that B.C. wasn't going to progress without First Peoples as an integral part," he said.
Bravo!!!
Take only what you need.
