Treaty Commission Highlights Progress and Champions Process

Press Releases

VANCOUVER – Today the Treaty Commission releases its 2015 annual report, BC Treaty Negotiations: Process and Progress.

Treaty negotiations are critical to the future of British Columbia and Canada, and the investment is significant. Resolving the land question in BC is more important than ever.

Given the critical importance of treaties to the future of our province, the Treaty Commission focused this year’s annual report on describing and clarifying its process — the responsibilities of the negotiating parties, and the role and duties of the Treaty Commission itself.

The report reflects on the progress — the significant accomplishments in treaty negotiations in BC over the last two decades. A fold-out map is included that illustrates the areas of the province where treaties have been reached and where negotiations have advanced significantly. It shows that reconciliation through the BC treaty negotiations process has advanced significantly in almost a third of the province.

“Discussions around reconciliation between the Government and First Nations are more urgent than ever. There is a successful reconciliatory process in BC, supported by an established legal foundation – and as the report shows, it’s working. This is something to be proud of and something to be protected,” said Acting Chief Commissioner Celeste Haldane.

Quick Facts

• BCTC’s 2015 annual report will be available online at bctreaty.ca at 11:00am.
• Video of the press conference will be available online by early afternoon.
• There are 65 First Nations, representing over half of all Indian Act Bands in BC, which are participating in or have completed treaties through the treaty negotiations process.
• Active or completed negotiations involve 41 First Nations, representing 78 Indian Act Bands, totalling 39% of all Indian Act Bands in BC.

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FOR AN INTERVIEW OR HARD COPY OF THE REPORT CONTACT:

Odette Wilson / Communications Advisor / t: 604-482-9215 / c: 604-290-4059 / owilson@bctreaty.ca

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