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Published by Black Press Ltd. at 3210 Clinton Street, Terrace, B.C.
FRIDAY, August 7, 2015
Volume 10 Issue 5
TMC 20,200
Kitselas and Kitsumkalum sign treaty agreements and ready for final talks By Josh Massey
THE NORTHERN CONNECTOR
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The Kitselas and Kitsumkalum took significant steps Aug. 4 with the signing of agreements in principle to move their respective land claims negotiations toward final talks. Top, provincial aboriginal and reconciliation minister John Rustad watches as Kitsumkalum chief councillor Don Roberts signs the Kitsumkalum official document. Beside Roberts is negotiator Alex Bolton. At bottom, Rustad waits while Kitselas chief councillor signs his first nation’s document. At right is negotiator Mel Bevan.
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TERRACE - The Kitsumkalum and Kitselas can now formally advance into the final stages of their treaty negotiations with the federal and provincial governments thanks to agreements in principle signed Aug. 4. Both First Nations approved their agreements more than two years ago through referenda but senior government approval wasn’t made official until today’s signing. The Kitsumkalum agreement provides for approximately 45,406 hectares of land, north and west of Terrace, and $44.2 million (to be adjusted for inflation), once a final agreement is reached. The Kitselas agreement provides 36,158 hectares of land east of Terrace, and $34.7 million (to be adjusted for inflation), once a final agreement is reached. It may take several years yet of negotiations to reach a final agreement for both First Nations and members from each will again vote to approve of their content. Kitsumkalum chief councillor Don Roberts and Kitselas chief councillor Joe Bevan signed for their governments while the province was represented by aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister John Rustad. The federal government was to have been represented by Conservative Member of Parliament Mark Strahl from the Fraser Valley in his capacity as the parliamentary secretary to the federal aboriginal affairs minister but his trip here was cancelled because of Sunday’s election call. Instead, the federal government was represented by a senior land claims official to formally recognize Canada’s signing of both agreements in principle. “We’ve been waiting 20-some some years; it’s a long time to wait,” said Bevan. “I mean, having two people decide on the right course is tough enough, but getting three governments all wanting to position themselves, well that’s tough.” “This is a huge step, we’ve been waiting two-and-a-half years for them to review the document,” said Bevan. “It’s all up for negotiation. We can’t assume anything is a given,” he added of the next steps in negotiation. To honour the step forward, and to indicate Kitsumkalum’s desire to keep progressing, Roberts gave the province and Canada each a hand-painted paddle. “It is to signify that we will paddle together,” he said.
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