Minister Michael de Jong’s highly successful summer tour from 21-27 July culminated in the historic signing of the Maa-nulth Final Agreement by four of the five Maa-nulth First Nations – Toquaht, Uchucklesaht, Ucluelet and Ka:’yu:’k’th’/Che:k’tles7et’h First Nations.
On Tuesday July 22, 2008, representatives of the Toquaht, Uchucklesaht and Ucluelet First Nations welcomed Minister de Jong to Ittatsoo on Vancouver Island’s Barkley Sound, to sign the historic Maa-nulth Final Agreement which will create social and economic opportunities for the communities and build certainty and encourage investment for B.C.
Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Michael de Jong joins Maa-nulth First Nations for a special signing ceremony in Ittatsoo on July 22, 2008.
Front Row Left-Right: Chief Bert Mack (Toquaht Nation), Minister de Jong, Chief Charlie Cootes (Uchucklesaht), Chief Vi Mundy (Ucluelet First Nation), Wilson Jack (Ucluelet First Nation).
Back Row Left-Right: Anne Morgan (Toquaht Nation), Mark Lofthouse (Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation), Barb Touchie & Tyson Touchie (Ucluelet First Nation).
The tour included touring treaty lands and meeting with Chiefs and representatives from each First Nation as well as members of local business groups.
Ka:’yu:’k’th’/Che:k’tles7et’h First Nations, who live on the northwest coast of the Island, greeted Minister de Jong on Thursday July 24 with a community lunch, boat tour and community feast before becoming the fourth First Nation to sign the agreement.
“The signing of the Maa-nulth Treaty is the culmination of years of hard work by the First Nations communities, the Province and Canada. I am immensely proud to bear witness to such an historic event,” said de Jong. “It is a tribute to the vision of the Maa-nulth First Nations that we come so far and this agreement will help to secure the future of their communities and give them the ability to move forward with confidence and pride.”
Minister de Jong signs the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement in Kyuquot with Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' Chief Tessie Smith and other members of the Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k'tles7et'h' First Nations.
From Left to Right: Chief Charlie Cootes, Anne Morgan, Chief Vi Mundy, Chief Tessie Smith, Minister Michael de Jong and Peter Hanson.
To commemorate the signings, Minister de Jong attended a number of community events and presented an etched glass plaque and framed aerial print of the treaty lands to each Maa-nulth signatory.
At a gathering hosted by the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, Minister de Jong thanked them for their hospitality and warmly expressed his belief that they were moving towards a ground-breaking agreement of their own. He presented the Tla-o-qui-aht with $4000 to assist in the continued development of the Tla-o-qui-aht youth program and also announced $6000 to support Tla-o-qui-aht’s management of the Clayoquot Arm Recreation Site under agreement with the Province.
Minister de Jong also enjoyed a warm welcome from neighbouring First Nations. He heard about the challenges facing Ahousaht First Nation and applauded the community’s youth for achieving more graduations than any previous year. Minister de Jong presented Chief Keith Atleo with $5000 to help the Class of 2008 move forward into post-secondary education. Minister de Jong was also delighted to contribute an additional $5000 to support the community’s young people at a Port Alberni basketball tournament.
“Today’s youth are the leaders of tomorrow,” said de Jong. ‘It is right that we champion their development through education and sporting activities.”
Hesquiaht First Nation also extended their hospitality. Minister de Jong enjoyed an informal dinner at the Community Hall. He spoke passionately about the importance of education to the future of the community and congratulated them on the opening of a new high school and on the success of their Aboriginal Headstart Educational Childhood Development program. He announced $5000 in recognition of the Hesquiaht youth cultural program.
Finally, Minister de Jong rounded off his tour with a trip up Nootka Sound on the Uchuck III passenger and cargo boat to pay a visit to the Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation at Yuquot, also known as Friendly Cove.
Touring First Nations and Aboriginal communities allows Minister de Jong to see and hear first hand about their challenges and successes. In 2007, he toured the B.C. Central Coast to visit the communities of the Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Gitga’at, Gitxaala, Kitasoo and Wuikinuxv First Nations.
For more information and pictures of Minister de Jong's tour, visit the Events and Announcements page.