AGREEMENTS BRING CLOSURE TO HISTORIC DISPUTES

VICTORIA – The Province, Canada and four First Nations have settled agreements that resolve the last of B.C.’s cut-off claims disputes and provide land and financial resources that will assist them in developing their local economies, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong announced today.

“These agreements with the Seton Lake Indian Band, Gitwangak Band Council, Metlakatla Band and Lax Kw’alaams Indian Band, dating back more than 90 years, grew out of our collective desire to make right the past and achieve lasting reconciliation,” said de Jong. “I can think of no better way to celebrate B.C.’s 150^th anniversary than by closing the book on the McKenna-McBride cut-off claims, which stem from the early decades of our province’s history.”

The agreements bring to a close a difficult chapter in B.C.’s early history dating to the McKenna-McBride commission of 1912-1916, struck to investigate the size of reserve lands throughout the young province. The commission expanded many reserves, but recommended that lands could be cut off from others as long as the bands consented. However, lands were cut off from 22 bands without members’ consent.

First Nations, Canada, and British Columbia began negotiations over the cut-off lands in the 1970s. With agreements concluded recently with the Seton Lake Indian Band, Gitwangak Band Council, Metlakatla Band and Lax Kw’alaams Indian Band, the McKenna-McBride era cut-off claims era passes into history.

“Specific claims settlements are truly important to all Canadians, and today we celebrate several agreements that bring closure to a long series of claims in B.C.’s history,” said Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians. “These settlements demonstrate Canada’s commitment to making progress on outstanding claims issues and finding solutions that are beneficial not only to First Nations people, but to all Canadians, coast to coast.”

Seton Lake Band is a St’at’imc (pronounced stat-lee-um) nation located 20 kilometres northwest of Lillooet in the southern Interior and Gitwangak, a Gitxsan nation, is located at the junction of the Yellowhead and Cassiar highways in the northern Interior. Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams are Tsimshian First Nations located near Prince Rupert.

“We are glad to put this difficult time in our history behind us,” said Seton Lake Indian Band Chief Larry Casper Jr. “We now move towards a future where our children can see that negotiations have a positive effect, and we look forward to continuing dialogue with the Province on other issues.”

Under three separate agreements, Seton Lake Band will receive 12.8 hectares (31.6 acres) of provincial Crown land and $600,000 from Canada; the Gitwangak Band Council will see the return of 18.8 acres (7.6 hectares) of the original cut-off lands, along with financial compensation of $350,000 from Canada and the Province; and the Metlakatla and Lax Kw’alaams Bands will receive provincial land parcels totalling 11,750 acres (4755 hectares), as well as negotiation funding of $150,000 for each band, and an additional settlement of approximately $3,000 to Metlakatla. All but 10.5 hectares (26 acres) being provided to the two First Nations is former reserve land.

“For nearly 100 years, over 20 First Nations have endeavoured to right the wrong of the cut-off claims,” said Chief Harold Leighton of the Metlakatla Indian Band. “We are happy to stand with British Columbia and Canada today to celebrate the resolution of these claims, and to move forward now with greater certainty toward a shared future.”

Once provincial Crown land has been transferred to Canada, it will be eligible for addition to reserve lands. Once finalized, increases in the land base of a First Nation community can lead to economic and social opportunities in industry, tourism, and housing. These agreements also underline governments’ efforts to reconcile past injustices.

Since 2005, the Province has been building a new relationship with First Nations based on respect, recognition and reconciliation. Through treaties and other agreements with First Nations, the Province is committed to closing the socio-economic gap that separates Aboriginal people from other British Columbians.

To learn more about the New Relationship, visit www.treaties.gov.bc.ca/overview_accomplish.html.

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