Today, the Tsawwassen First Nation, Tla'amin Nation, and the five Maa-nulth Nations (Huu-ay-aht, Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Chek'tles7et'h', Toquaht, Uchucklesaht, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ) have formally established the Alliance of BC Modern Treaty Nations (ABCMTN). By signing a Memorandum of Cooperation, this group commits to collaborating on areas of mutual interest related to treaty implementation in British Columbia.
The ABCMTN will address a wide range of issues requiring joint action, including revenue sharing, police service agreements, and co-management of fisheries, lands and resources.
A Canada-wide coalition of modern treaty governments has been in place for some time to advocate for improved treaty implementation at the federal level; however, no mechanism was in place for treaty Nations in BC to collectively engage at the provincial level.
"This alliance is about strengthening how we work together as modern treaty Nations in British Columbia. It is an opportunity to build on the nation-to-nation relationships established through our treaties by tackling some of the biggest challenges that have arisen through the implementation process,” said executive TFN Councillor Tanya Corbet, Tsawwassen First Nation.
"Many of the issues we're facing as modern treaty Nations today are the result of developments that none of the parties anticipated during treaty negotiations. The formation of the ABCMTN will benefit all parties as we work to resolve these shared implementation-related issues,” said Chief Charlie Cootes, Maa-nulth Treaty Society.
"We are looking forward to working directly alongside the other modern treaty Nations to pool our resources and engage in collaborative problem-solving and advocacy. This will also benefit the other partners to our treaties, the federal and provincial governments, by ensuring better implementation of the constitutional commitments in our agreements,” said Hegus Clint Williams, Tla'amin Nation.
The BC Treaty Commission, facilitator of the BC treaty negotiations process, signed today's Memorandum of Cooperation as a witness.
