First nation reaches historic pact with province on future land use
After years of conflict, including a Supreme Court of Canada battle, the Taku River Tlingit First Nation of northwest British Columbia signed a land and resource management and shared decision-making agreement Tuesday with the provincial government – the first of its kind in B.C.
Premier Christy Clark said the agreement creates 13 new protected areas and provides resource development opportunities and investment certainty in more than three million hectares in the Atlin Taku region. The total area is the size of Vancouver Island, she said.
“This will bring investment and jobs for families. One of the most important things families need is to have a job,” said Clark.
“Today’s celebration is about balance and partnership, and making and forging a better future for all our families.”
The Land and Resource Management and Shared Decision-Making Agreement gives formal effect to the Atlin Taku Land Use Plan and establishes government-to-government decision-making structures and processes to guide future land and resource management. While other first nations have signed land use agreements, this is the first time the province and a first nation also signed a government-to-government agreement at the same time, setting down how they will consult with each other in the future.
“We are emerging from a dark period in our history with hope and promise,” said Taku River Tlingit First Nation spokesman John Ward.
“It’s so great to come out of the darkness and silence we’ve experienced for so many years and be acknowledged.” Ward said the land use agreement gives aboriginals a say on how industry “can access and conduct themselves in our traditional territory.”
The Taku River Tlingit people have already begun to work with mining developers in the area on potential resource projects that could support 350 jobs during construction and 280 operations jobs.
The Taku River Tlingit are still in the formal treaty process with both the provincial and federal governments.
However, this agreement with the province will provide them with $650,000 over three years to implement the pact.
Of that, $300,000 will go toward providing them with the capacity to engage in land and resource discussions; $150,000 to support a Taku River Tlingit fish and wildlife management program; $150,000 to support their participation in a review of major projects in their territory; and up to $50,000 to support their participation in collaborative projects with B.C. agencies.
The traditional territory in northwestern B.C. includes the Taku River watershed, one of B.C.’s most significant salmon watersheds which supports the largest commercial salmon run in southeastern Alaska. Also included in their territory is the area surrounding Tagish, Atlin and Teslin Lakes. The main Taku River Tlingit community of about 375 members is located in Atlin.
From 2000 to 2004, the Taku River Tlingit and the provincial government were involved in litigation, which resulted in the Supreme Court of Canada telling the two sides they needed to sit down and negotiate an agreement.
Clark added, “What we’ve discovered is conflict doesn’t serve anyone well.” She said following the court decision “the bulk of the hard work got started,” which resulted in Tuesday’s agreement.
kpemberton@vancouversun.com
