Treaty Builds Future for Five First Nations

Premier Gordon Campbell welcomed chiefs, Ha’wiih (hereditary chiefs) and community members from the five Maa-nulth First Nations this week to celebrate the introduction of legislation for Vancouver Island’s first modern-day treaty.

• Ucluelet First Nation, Toquaht Nation, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h’ First Nations and Uchucklesaht Tribe voted to ratify the agreement in October 2007, while Huu-ay-aht First Nations ratified the Final Agreement in July.
• The Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement will provide a capital transfer of $73.1 million, annual resource revenue payments averaging $1.2 million for 25 years and a land package totalling approximately 24,550 hectares to the five First Nations.
• When the treaty comes into effect, each of the five Maa-nulth First Nations will own their land in fee simple and there will be no more Indian reserves.
• The treaty includes self-government provisions and a phase-out of tax exemptions.

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Province Moves Forward on Climate Action

British Columbia took two major steps forward in the fight against global warming with the introduction of both the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act (GGRTA), as well as the introduction of the BC Climate Action Team.

The BC Climate Action Team is a 22-member panel which will advise the Province on how to meet its climate action targets, and is comprised of some of the province’s best minds as well as nine world leaders in the climate sciences, including Mountain Equipment CEO and David Suzuki Foundation future CEO Peter Robinson and Dr. Andrew Weaver of the University of Victoria’s School of Earth and Ocean Sciences. The GGRTA will enact into law British Columbia’s ambitious target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by at least 33 per cent below 2007 levels by 2020.

Other highlights of the Act include:

• Requires that realistic, economically viable interim targets for 2012 and 2016 be set by the end of 2008 and further establishes an emission reduction target of 80 per cent below 2007 levels by 2050;
• The government will be required to publish a report every two years outlining the progress made towards reaching the emissions reduction targets; and
• Requires the provincial government, including provincial ministries and agencies, schools, colleges, universities, health authorities and Crown corporations, to become carbon neutral by 2010 and to make public a report every year detailing actions taken towards carbon neutrality.

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First Nations Students Benefit from Historic Agreement

The Province introduced historic legislation this week that recognizes participating First Nations’ jurisdiction over education on First Nations land in British Columbia and supports First Nations student achievement and lifelong learning.

Benefits of this legislation also include the following:

• Enables on-reserve First Nations schools to have their own system of Kindergarten to Grade 12 education, based on provincial curriculum learning outcomes for core courses leading to graduation;
• Enables participating First Nations who have granted their own graduation certificates to apply to have students receive the provincial graduation certificate, called the Dogwood Certificate;
• Establishes the First Nations Education Authority as a regulatory body for teacher certification, school certification and curriculum and exam standards;
• Guarantees Ministry of Education consultation with the First Nations Education Authority as part of a general consultation on education policy, legislation and standards changes that affect First Nations education; and
• Provides access for First Nations schools to the British Columbia College of Teachers Employment registry.

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