In what chief negotiator Robert Morales is calling a 香蕉视频直播渟ignificant step香蕉视频直播� the Hul香蕉视频直播檘umi香蕉视频直播檔um Treaty Group (HTG) on Vancouver Island announced Wednesday that the documents have been signed to move to Stage 5 香蕉视频直播� the 香蕉视频直播渇inal agreement香蕉视频直播� step of BC Treaty Negotiations.

The move comes after nearly 20 years stalled at Stage 4. The Treaty Group represents the First Nations of the Cowichan Valley area.

香蕉视频直播淭he B.C. Treaty process, when it was established in 香蕉视频直播�93, developed six stages and the first three stages were fairly quick, but Stage 4 was the 香蕉视频直播榓greement in principal香蕉视频直播� stage and that香蕉视频直播檚 where we香蕉视频直播檝e been stuck for 20 years now,香蕉视频直播� explained Morales. 香蕉视频直播淢oving into a 香蕉视频直播榝inal agreement香蕉视频直播� stage means that we香蕉视频直播檙e able to negotiate to enter into what I would term 香蕉视频直播榬eal香蕉视频直播� negotiation. We香蕉视频直播檙e no longer talking about what might be, we香蕉视频直播檙e now developing the final agreement, final treaty language and dealing with a lot of the issues we香蕉视频直播檝e had in the past. It香蕉视频直播檚 a significant step in the overall treaty process to be able to enter into the final treaty discussions and negotiations.香蕉视频直播�

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Though it香蕉视频直播檚 taken two decades to arrive at this point, Morales believes the process will now move forward more swiftly.

香蕉视频直播淲e set a goal of four years,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淚n the transition document itself there are a number of commitments that are made by the two levels of government [federal and provincial] and the HTG and their member nations.香蕉视频直播�

Also, the set of guiding principals created for moving forward 香蕉视频直播渋s a vast improvement香蕉视频直播� over the way negotiations have been conducted up to this point, Morales noted.

香蕉视频直播淭he new policy is a very significant improvement and a policy agreed to by both Canada and B.C.,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭he transition document makes reference to a number of different commitments by Canada and B.C. that really set the stage for the final agreement negotiations. If we香蕉视频直播檙e able to implement all of that, I think it speaks to being able to move much more quickly.香蕉视频直播�

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Morales credits the willingness of both the federal and provincial governments to work with the HTG for being able to escape Stage 4.

香蕉视频直播淲e have for the first time some fairly congruent positions between the federal Liberal party and the (B.C.) NDP party so that made it a lot easier in terms of both levels of government being more agreeable to moving forward,香蕉视频直播� he said.

As well, the member nations of the HTG (Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Lyackson First Nation and the Ts香蕉视频直播檜ubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan First Nations) are all in support of moving forward so the time that would have been spent on community votes was saved.

The communities will have to vote on ratification of the final agreement eventually.

Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett said 香蕉视频直播渢his new relationship is based on a recognition of rights. A rights recognition approach explicitly recognizes that Aboriginal rights are inherent and will not be extinguished or surrendered, and seeks to build a collaborative government-to-government relationship that is flexible and able to adapt to changing circumstances over time.香蕉视频直播�

Cowichan Tribes is the largest band in B.C. with more than 5,000 members.

香蕉视频直播淎fter being in the treaty negotiation since 1993, this is a major step forward for our Hul香蕉视频直播檘umi香蕉视频直播檔um Nations,香蕉视频直播� said Cowichan Chief William Seymour.

Other member First Nations chiefs agreed.

Chief Georgina Livingstone (Ts香蕉视频直播檜ubaa-asatx [Lake Cowichan] First Nation) stated that she looks forward to continuing the work.

Chief Joan Brown of Penelakut Tribe said 香蕉视频直播淭his signing represents an important step in the reconciliation process and hopes it is the beginning of a strong, respectful relationship in the future.香蕉视频直播�

Chief Richard Thomas (Lyackson First Nation) said he 香蕉视频直播渨as overwhelmed by the length of time it has taken to get here.香蕉视频直播�

Chief Robert Thomas (Halalt First Nation) said 香蕉视频直播淲e never relinquished our title to the land and that this treaty is for our future generations of children and grandchildren.香蕉视频直播�

Morales, too, is pleased with the milestone and looks forward to the work ahead.

香蕉视频直播淚t all speaks to a very much improved relationship between Canada, B.C., and First Nations.香蕉视频直播�

sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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