Treaty 8 First Nations and the government of British Columbia have recently concluded two historical agreements on Treaty Land Entitlement and land and resource managment. These agreements are expected to better honour the provincial government’s treaty obligations, significantly change how land is managed and how natural resources are developed in the First Nations’ traditional territories.
Yahey v. British Columbia
- The agreements were signed in January as a result of the verdict of the Yahey v. B.C.
- government for failing to adequately address the effects of industrial development in the nation’s traditional territory.
- It comprises parts of northeastern British Columbia, northern Alberta and portions of Saskatchewan and the Northwest Territories.
- Treaty 8 created reciprocal rights and obligations, which the province violated by allowing industrial development without seeking the Nations’ approval.
Restoration fund
- The new agreement signed with Blueberry River First Nation provides economic compensation for land restoration activities.
- A $200 million restoration fund is to be established by June 2025 to support land restoration efforts after decades of industrial exploitation.
- The Treaty Land Entitlement agreement solves a long-lasting claim on lands that were not assigned to First Nations when they signed Treaty 8 in 1899.
Resource exploitation
- is expected to experience a significant boom in resource exploitation activities in the near future due to the abundance of gas in the Montney Play.
- Montney Play has also been characterized as Canada’s largest carbon bombs, due to the emissions it could generate if it’s exploited.
- If such a scenario becomes reality, Canada will most likely miss its climate goals, which are already at risk of being unmet.
Incorporating UNDRIP
- and federal governments are working to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
- The act establishes UNDRIP as a framework for reconciliation and is to be implemented according to an 89-point action plan.
- For the time being, implementing UNDRIP and the principle of informed consent is essential.
- It makes it possible to assess whether UNDRIP is being implemented properly while reflecting on what the future in northern B.C.