From left: Hon. Michael de Jong, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Chief Liz Logan, Fort Nelson First Nation, Tribal Chief – Council of Western Treaty 8 Chiefs, Hon. Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources
An Economic Benefits Agreement between the Province of British Columbia and four Treaty 8 First Nations in northeastern B.C. will ensure that Aboriginal people and communities share in the region’s rich natural resource economy.
“This agreement signifies an important step forward in the partnership between Treaty 8 First Nations and government,” said Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong. “It establishes the foundation for members of these Treaty 8 First Nations to share in the benefits of resource activity, and contributes to an improved climate of co-operation.”
The Doig River, Fort Nelson, Prophet River, and West Moberly First Nations, all members of the Council of Western Treaty 8 Chiefs, signed the agreement on March 18, 2008, at a ceremony in Fort St. John. Confirming the obligations for meaningful consultation by the Province with Treaty 8 First Nations, the agreement will enhance land-use collaboration in the region.
The agreement provides for an initial equity payment of $13.3 million and revenue-sharing payments between $3.4 and $13.4 million per year for 15 years. Revenue-sharing payments will be linked to the level of activity from oil and gas, mining, and forestry in the region.
"This agreement is about our working together with B.C. to create certainty of process so that development can proceed in a more fair and responsible way,” said the First Nations’ spokesperson, Tribal Chief Liz Logan. “It is not about giving up our rights. The obligations to consult and accommodate are clarified. We’ll continue to look to industry to enter into impact benefit agreements with us. We’ll continue to insist that our Treaty be respected.”
The funds provided to the Treaty 8 First Nations will be paid into a trust for the benefit of the signatory Treaty 8 First Nations. Additional equity payments will be made upon completion of land and resource management agreements, currently under negotiation.
“We have seen the natural resources within our Treaty area depleted for over 100 years, and seen little benefit until recently,” said Logan. “This agreement with the Province provides us with the financial means to be better stewards of our lands, and to better take advantage of the various economic opportunities around us. Our vision is for our member communities to become healthy and self-sufficient.”
“The agreements we’re working on now are about effective resource management. We want to ensure there’s a good balance between protection of our lands and economic opportunities, so there’s something left for future generations,” said Vice Tribal Chief Roland Willson. “The Elders have told us that it’s not about the money, it’s about the land. We’re happy to have the economic benefits agreement signed, but our priority is the resource management agreements.”
The Province is committed to concluding the resource management agreements before the end of 2009. The economic benefits agreement is part of a broader process; emphasis will now shift to the other, equally important components of building a stable framework for improved relations with the Treaty 8 Nations.