Highlights of the Year
The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation realized several important successes last year. The following are highlights:
- British Columbia and Canada signed Agreements-in-Principle with the Yale First Nation and the Yekooche First Nation. Approval of these Agreements-in-Principle indicates that these treaty tables are making real progress towards Final Agreements.
- British Columbia signed Framework Agreements with Musqueam, Lax Kw'alaams and Tlowitsis First Nations. These agreements establish the issues to be negotiated at these treaty tables. The signing of a Framework Agreement signifies completion of stage three in the six-stage BC Treaty Commission negotiation process.
- The Ministry led the provincial effort in preparing for the First Ministers' Meeting (FMM) with Aboriginal leaders in Kelowna, November 25 – 27, 2005 and also played a lead role in the national process for planning the FMM. The historic meeting, following 18 months of cross-Canada collaboration, resulted in a communiqué outlining how the provincial and federal governments and Aboriginal leaders would work together to achieve substantial improvements in the overall quality of life for Aboriginal people in the areas of health, education and housing. British Columbia, the federal government and provincial First Nations leaders then went further and signed the Transformative Change Accord, which focuses on actions and priorities for this province.
- The Ministry established a working relationship and dialogue with the First Nations Leadership Council (FNLC). The FNLC is composed of political executives from the First Nations Summit, Union of BC Indian Chiefs and the BC Assembly of First Nations. The FNLC and British Columbia are committed to on-going discussions founded on the principles of mutual respect, recognition and reconciliation of Aboriginal rights.
- British Columbia enacted legislation to establish the New Relationship Trust and appointed a board to administer its $100-million budget. The Trust is charged with funding initiatives to build long-term capacity for First Nations throughout British Columbia so they may effectively participate in land and resource management and social programs for their communities.
- The provincial government allotted an additional $1-million to the First Peoples' Heritage, Language, and Culture Council for the preservation of First Nation languages in British Columbia.
- Fifteen Treaty-Related Measures totaling $633,018 were initiated to aid First Nations with land and resource planning and management as well as capacity development.
- The Ministry continued to make substantial progress at six Final Agreement treaty tables. In addition, negotiations continued to advance at 40 other treaty tables within the BC Treaty Commission process.
