Canada’s Oldest First Nation’s Newspaper - Serving Nuu-chah-nulth-aht since 1974 Canadian Publications Mail Product haas^i>sa “ Interesting News” Vol. 30 - No. 20 - October 9, 2003 Sales Agreement No. 40047776
Maa-nulth Nations sign A.I.P. By David Wiwchar Southern Region Reporter Anacla - Surrounded by their Ha’wiih and muschum, the leaders from Huu-ayaht, Uchucklesaht, Ucluelet, Toquaht, and Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ signed a collective Agreement-inprinciple (AIP) with BC and Canada. Tyee Ha’wilth Spencer Peters (Huu-ayaht), Bert Mack (Toquaht), Lawrence Jack (Ucluelet), Francis Gillette (Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’), Christina Cox (Che:k’tles7et’h’) and Chief Councillor Charlie Cootes Sr. (Uchucklesaht) signed the AIP, which will form the basis for final negotiations of a legally binding treaty.
“I feel really good today,” said Uchucklesaht Chief Councillor Charlie Cootes Sr. “We’re beginning a journey that will create economic, political, and legal certainty. We’re going to be able to own our own land and do whatever we think is economically beneficial,” he said. “I feel really good today,” said Cootes. “We’re beginning a journey that will create economic, political, and legal certainty. It gives us an opportunity to legally own some of our resources. We’re going to be able to own our own land and do whatever we think is economically beneficial,” he said. According to local regional director Jim Levis, the non-Native residents around Maa-nulth communities are also pleased with the progress. “It’s an opportunity for all of us to move forward. People want to see this done, because out here in the coastal communities we all have more in common with each other than not,” said Levis, Director for Area “A” (Bamfield) on the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District. “And as a business owner I only see positive things such as the development of eco-tourism opportunities, shellfish aquaculture and forestry. It’s a healthy scenario and everyone benefits,” he said. “Economic development is the forefront of the AIP with the Maa-nulth. It has been the focus they put on it,” said provincial negotiator Mark Lofthouse. “I’m extremely happy that Maa-nulth have agreed to fast-track treaty negotiations, and have attained the furthest progress within the BC treaty process,” he said. “This is the first AIP to be ratified by
multiple communities,” said federal negotiator Eric Denhoff. “It’s a major breakthrough for the treaty process and proof that the treaty process can succeed, and that the past is not irreconcilable with the present,” he said. Maa-nulth First Nations have a combined population of 1,934 people, many of whom live near Bamfield, Port Alberni, Ucluelet, and in Kyuquot Sound. They are members of the Nuuchah-nulth Tribal Council, which negotiated a draft AIP in March 2001 with the provincial and federal governments. The Maa-nulth First Nations voted in favour of the draft AIP, but it was not approved because the overall Nuu-chah-nulth membership did not support it. The Maa-nulth First Nations subsequently approached the provincial and federal governments to continue negotiations. The land component of the AIP is largely provided by BC. It includes up to 20,900 hectares of provincial Crown land and 2,105 hectares of existing Indian reserve land. The Government of Canada will contribute most of the capital transfer of $62.5 million, less any outstanding negotiation loans. The Ucluelet First Nation will receive an additional $6.25 million to purchase land from a willing seller. The AIP outlines other major components of a treaty, including rights to resources such as wildlife, fish and timber, culture and related self-government provisions. Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis, spokesperson for Maa-nulth, said “the achievement of selfgovernment under the treaty and the return of some of our traditional territories means the achievement of hope for our peoples. All of our Maanulth Nations are committed to rapid completion of the treaty, and we are already proceeding towards this. The AIP is an important point, but the real goal is the treaty.”
“This is a great start, and we’ll see if BC and Canada have the political will to take this the rest of the way,” said Cootes. “The AIP contains very little. The tough issues are still to be negotiated,” he said. BC Premier Gordon Campbell, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Robert Nault, and BCTC Commissioner Miles Richardson were
Ahousaht seats its newest Chief ................................. Page 2 Language and Unity the focus of NTC AGM .......... Page 3 Hupacasath unveils Land Use Plan ............................ Page 5 Tla-o-qui-aht history tracks Tonquin ......................... Page 7 First Nations fight for Hospital ................................... Page 9 How to apply for Social Assistance ............................ Page 13 NEDC Business News ................................................... Page 20
Tyee Ha’wilth Francis Gillette (Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’), Christina Cox (Che:k’tles7et’h’), Spencer Peters (Huu-ay-aht), Lawrence Jack (Ucluelet), and Bert Mack (Toquaht), signed the AIP, which will form the basis for final negotiations of a legally binding treaty. unable to fly to Bamfield to attend the ceremony due to fog, but will sign the AIP on behalf of their governments in the coming days. “This is an important milestone for us all, and I applaud the leadership and commitment of the Maa-nulth First Nations to work toward a final treaty,” said Premier Campbell. “The province committed to fast-tracking treaty negotiations to achieve fair, equitable settlements that provide greater certainty for all British Columbians. We hope this agreement will form the basis for a final treaty with the Maa-nulth First Nations that helps to improve the lives of their people and provide greater economic opportunities for all of Vancouver Island,” he said. “This AIP provides the basis for a fair and lasting treaty with the Maa-nulth people,” said Minister Nault, expressing regrets for missing the event. “It brings the Maa-nulth communities to the threshold of a new and promising era. This agreement also clearly demonstrates that we can build with Aboriginal people a new relationship based on trust, respect and co-operation.” An AIP is the fourth step in a six-step treaty negotiations process under the BC Treaty Commission and is not legally binding. The Maa-nulth Agreement-InPrinciple (AIP) forms the basis of a Final Agreement that will clearly define the rights and obligations of the Maa-nulth First Nations. “This is a great start, and we’ll see if BC and Canada have the political will to take this the rest of the way,” said Cootes. “The AIP contains very little. The tough issues
are still to be negotiated,” he said. The AIP sets out that the treaty will replace Aboriginal rights to fish with specific rights defined in the treaty. The AIP provides for the Maa-nulth First Nations and the federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans to negotiate an agreement outside the treaty for commercial fish opportunities. These negotiations will determine annual allocations of sockeye and chinook salmon, herring, halibut, sablefish, and Dungeness crab. Commercial fish opportunities will have the same priority as regular commercial fisheries in management decisions by the Minister. “Fisheries is a big issue that we’ll have to get some major commitments from the government,” said Cootes. “We’ve been investing heavily in doing what DFO should be doing (at the Henderson Lake Hatchery). We would be looking for some serious, multi-year funding commitments outside treaty funding,” he said. “We want to have some say in aquatic management,” said George Watts, Chief Negotiator for Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’. “Sea otters are more important to the government than Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ people, and we’re not going to allow that. I don’t see a balance being sought, and there needs to be a process for mitigation,” he said.
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