New Treaty Agreement in Principle

The Yale First Nation (Fraser Canyon north of Hope, BC) has signed an agreement-in-principle with British Columbia and Canada (click here for the BC Government’s press release). This signing is the last major hurdle in the BC Treaty Process before a treaty is finalized and ratified. It brings to seven the number of First Nations working to finalize their treaties in British Columbia.

An AIP is the fourth step in the six-step treaty negotiation process set out by the B.C. Treaty Commission. AIPs are not legally binding. They set the foundation for negotiating a Final Agreement, with provisions on land, capital transfer, resources, culture and governance.

More information is available through the website of the British Columbia Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation website.

(Note: Despite the fact the government’s press release says that there are now six AIPs, I am pretty sure there are actually seven. There are seven listed on the front page of the Ministry’s website anyway.)

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