Coastal First Nations/BC Reconciliation Protocol

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Groundbreaking Agreement Promises Economic Opportunities
http://www.turtleisland.org/discussion/viewtopic.php?p=10819#p10819

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

December 10, 2009

Office of the Premier
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Coastal First Nations

RECONCILIATION PROTOCOL BENEFITS COASTAL FIRST NATIONS

VICTORIA – The Province and First Nations from the Central and North Coast have signed the Coastal Reconciliation Protocol that will provide a framework for lasting reconciliation, announced Premier Gordon Campbell today.


“I want to congratulate all Coastal First Nations on their leadership and vision in working with us toward this historic signing,” said Premier Campbell. “Together we’re building on the momentum of the New Relationship by providing improved infrastructure, jobs and other economic opportunities to help meet the needs of these communities.”


This community-based agreement between the Province and Gitga’at First Nation, Haisla Nation, Heiltsuk Nation, Kitasoo Indian Band, Metlakatla First Nation and Wuikinuxw Nation will increase economic and legal certainty for resource and land use, establish a process for shared decision making and create opportunities for participation in the green economy.

“The Reconciliation Protocol provides our communities with the means to build a sustainable economy – one that respects our Aboriginal Rights and Title, our culture and the environment,” said Art Sterritt, executive director of the Coastal First Nations. “We look forward to working with the Province to ensure a true and lasting reconciliation where life’s opportunities for all children in British Columbia are equal.”

“A new ferry terminal offers multiple benefits to Klemtu,” said Chief Percy Starr. “It provides for a more consistent means of transportation service for our community members. Equally as important, it will also open the door for increased and economically-efficient development opportunities.”


Through the protocol:

· $12.5-million provincial funding and $12.5-million federal stimulus funding will be provided to build a new, larger ferry terminal at Klemtu.

· An estimated 150 jobs will be created to build the new ferry terminal at Klemtu.

· A shared-decision process will be established for resource and land use that will create certainties for process and timelines in decision-making through the involvement of First Nations.

· The Coastal First Nations will receive a total of $3.2 million over six years to fund their participation in the shared-decision making process.

· The Province is including potential carbon offsets for the first time. As carbon offsets are determined, the Coastal First Nations will receive a portion of the carbon offsets within their traditional territories.

· An Alternative Energy Action Plan will be created by both parties to advance alternative energy projects on the central and north coast.

· A commitment on the part of the Province to work with the First Nations to ensure they receive an equitable portion of commercial recreation permits and tenures.


Through the New Relationship, B.C. and First Nations are achieving agreements that are resulting in positive change in communities around the Province. To view the full agreement, visit http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/.



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BACKGROUNDER

The Province and Coastal First Nations have signed a Reconciliation Protocol containing the following components:

Klemtu Ferry Terminal

$25 million in joint federal/provincial funding to improve ferry access to Klemtu through the construction of a new ferry terminal in order to accommodate the Northern Expedition vessel. The ferry terminal will be a provincial capital asset.


The new Klemtu ferry terminal will be constructed at Wedge Rock, two km north of the existing terminal. The project will include a berth, ramp, vehicle compound and road improvements to the site. This project will create an estimated 150 jobs with construction completed by March 31, 2011.

Shared Decision Making

The agreement establishes a shared decision process for resource and land use that will create certainties for process and timelines in decision-making through the involvement of First Nations. Through the protocol, a decision matrix will be created that will identify the different decision types that are required in the administration of activities on the land base, and place them into differing levels of engagement, based on location and complexity of the decision. This process will ensure that First Nations have a meaningful role in decisions that are important to them.


In the first phase of implementation the parties will set priorities together for the following three sectors: forestry, Land Act decisions and commercial recreation.


Revenue Sharing

The Coastal First Nations will receive $200,000 this year and $600,000 annually for the next five years (for a total of $3.2 million) to fund participation in the decision making process.


Carbon Offset Sharing

The Province is agreeing to work with the Coastal First Nations to quantify the carbon offsets contained in the temperate rainforests of their traditional territories and to share a portion of future carbon offsets that the First Nations can then sell to generate revenue. All parties understand that it will take significant work to realize this element of the protocol, including the further development of a credible, regionally marketable and tradeable, carbon credit program.

Alternative Energy Plan

The parties have committed to create a plan to advance the development of alternative energy projects on the central and north coast and Haida Gwaii, which will provide economic and employment benefits for the Coastal First Nations.

Representatives from the Province, Coastal First Nations and industry will work together to prepare a plan for the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources by June 30, 2010.

Commercial Recreation and Economic Opportunities in Conservancies

The Province and Coastal First Nations will work together to increase First Nation economic participation in conservancies and the tourism sector through the identification and issuance of permits and tenures.

Forest Sector Opportunities

The Province will fulfil its March 2009 commitment regarding additional volume and long-term tenures. This includes continuation of the unused volume under the original Forest and Range Agreements, new First Nations tenures and undercut volume.


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Contact:

Bridgitte Anderson

Press Secretary
Office of the Premier

604 307-7177

Maria Wilkie

Communications Director

Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

250 953-3211 (office)

250 361 7720 (cell)


Art Sterritt

Executive Director

Coastal First Nations

604 868-9110

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Nuxalk Nation has become the sixth First Nation to join the groundbreaking agreement

Dec. 7, 2010
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
Coastal First Nations

NUXALK NATION JOINS COASTAL RECONCILIATION PROTOCOL

VANCOUVER - One year after the signing of the Coastal Reconciliation
Protocol, the Nuxalk Nation has become the sixth First Nation to join
the groundbreaking agreement, said Barry Penner, Minister of Aboriginal
Relations and Reconciliation.

"The request from the Nuxalk Nation to join the agreement is a clear
sign of the momentum that has been generated by the Coastal
Reconciliation Protocol," said Penner. "The goal is to respond to the
needs of coastal First Nations, by giving them a direct say in decisions
that impact their people. To have a sixth coastal First Nation join on
the eve of the first anniversary shows that this approach is working."

The Nuxalk Nation, based in Bella Coola, requested participation earlier
this year and formally signed the Protocol at a meeting today in
Vancouver.

"Becoming part of the Coastal Reconciliation Protocol will provide the
Nuxalk people with an additional venue to implement Nuxalk decisions
within our Territory," said Nuxalk Elected Chief Councillor Spencer
Siwallace, RPF. "By signing this Agreement, the Nuxalk Nation is taking
a positive step to manage our lands and resources within Nuxalk
Ancestral Territory to accommodate shared cultural, social,
environmental and economic interests."

Nuxalk joins five other First Nations from the Central and North Coast,
who participate in the community-based Protocol, which enhances local
economies by focusing on areas of shared and strategic economic
interest.

Other participating First Nations include the Gitga'at First Nation,
Heiltsuk Nation, Kitasoo Indian Band, Metlakatla First Nation and
Wuikinuxv Nation. These five First Nations and Premier Gordon Campbell
originally signed the Coastal Reconciliation Protocol on Dec. 10, 2009.

Since then, the participating First Nations and the B.C. government have
worked together to:

* Initiate construction on a ferry terminal at Klemtu.
* Create recommendations for a regional clean energy action plan.
* Develop a model for estimating carbon offsets related to coastal
forests.
* Explore new tourism, forestry and conservancy economic opportunities.
* Implement a governance forum to co-ordinate project work-plans.
* Develop a guidebook for implementing a consultation framework for land
and natural resources.

The Coastal Reconciliation Protocol features shared decision-making
related to resource and land use, revenue-sharing including the sharing
of carbon offsets, as well as $25 million in provincial-federal funding
for the new Klemtu ferry terminal.

This Protocol is one important way that the B.C. government is working
with First Nations to realize the New Relationship at the community
level.

To learn more about the Coastal Reconciliation Protocol and the
government's New Relationship with Aboriginal people, visit:
http://www.newrelationship.gov.bc.ca

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Media Contacts:

Maria Wilkie
Communications Director
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 953-3211
250 361-7720 (cell)

Art Sterritt
Executive Director
Coastal First Nations
604 868-9110

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December 9, 2010

WUIKINUXV WELCOMES NUXALK SIGNING OF RECONCILIATION PROTOCOL.

Wuikinuxv Village - The signing of the Reconciliation Protocol agreement by Nuxalk in Vancouver yesterday is “Most welcome” said Chief Frank Johnson of the Wuikinuxv. “This signing brings more collective strength to the Central Coast First Nations who have signed on to work together in realizing goals of the Protocol agreement.” The goals of this agreement include establishing a government to government framework for shared decision making for land and resources, including revenue sharing and other economic measures.

Chief Johnson goes on to say that “The Wuikinuxv, like the Nuxalk, have never ceded, sold or surrendered its Traditional Territory to the crown and has chosen several approaches to asserting its rights and title to its traditional territory.” These approaches include the reconciliation protocol agreement as well as the modern treaty process and a collaborative parks management agreement with the Province.

Alex Chartrand, the political negotiator for the Wuikinuxv also welcomed the signing of the reconciliation protocol. He added that the signing of the reconciliation protocol “Will provide the Central Coast First Nations an opportunity to work together for common goals and interests. Equally important, if not more important, is the opportunity to truly practice honour, and respect of each others’ traditional territories and boundaries.” Wuikinuxv continues to be engaged in a series of bilateral meetings with neighbouring First Nations to discuss traditional areas and boundaries.

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For more information please contact:

Chief Frank Johnson Alex Chartrand, Chief Political Negotiator
Wuikinuxv Elected Chief Wuikinuxv Treaty Office
250-949-8625 250-949-8622