In what chief negotiator Robert Morales is calling a 含羞草研究社渟ignificant step含羞草研究社� the Hul含羞草研究社檘umi含羞草研究社檔um Treaty Group (HTG) on Vancouver Island announced Wednesday that the documents have been signed to move to Stage 5 含羞草研究社� the 含羞草研究社渇inal agreement含羞草研究社� 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.

含羞草研究社淭he B.C. Treaty process, when it was established in 含羞草研究社�93, developed six stages and the first three stages were fairly quick, but Stage 4 was the 含羞草研究社榓greement in principal含羞草研究社� stage and that含羞草研究社檚 where we含羞草研究社檝e been stuck for 20 years now,含羞草研究社� explained Morales. 含羞草研究社淢oving into a 含羞草研究社榝inal agreement含羞草研究社� stage means that we含羞草研究社檙e able to negotiate to enter into what I would term 含羞草研究社榬eal含羞草研究社� negotiation. We含羞草研究社檙e no longer talking about what might be, we含羞草研究社檙e now developing the final agreement, final treaty language and dealing with a lot of the issues we含羞草研究社檝e had in the past. It含羞草研究社檚 a significant step in the overall treaty process to be able to enter into the final treaty discussions and negotiations.含羞草研究社�

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Though it含羞草研究社檚 taken two decades to arrive at this point, Morales believes the process will now move forward more swiftly.

含羞草研究社淲e set a goal of four years,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淚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.含羞草研究社�

Also, the set of guiding principals created for moving forward 含羞草研究社渋s a vast improvement含羞草研究社� over the way negotiations have been conducted up to this point, Morales noted.

含羞草研究社淭he new policy is a very significant improvement and a policy agreed to by both Canada and B.C.,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭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含羞草研究社檙e able to implement all of that, I think it speaks to being able to move much more quickly.含羞草研究社�

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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.

含羞草研究社淲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,含羞草研究社� he said.

As well, the member nations of the HTG (Cowichan Tribes, Halalt First Nation, Penelakut Tribe, Lyackson First Nation and the Ts含羞草研究社檜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 含羞草研究社渢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.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淎fter being in the treaty negotiation since 1993, this is a major step forward for our Hul含羞草研究社檘umi含羞草研究社檔um Nations,含羞草研究社� said Cowichan Chief William Seymour.

Other member First Nations chiefs agreed.

Chief Georgina Livingstone (Ts含羞草研究社檜ubaa-asatx [Lake Cowichan] First Nation) stated that she looks forward to continuing the work.

Chief Joan Brown of Penelakut Tribe said 含羞草研究社淭his signing represents an important step in the reconciliation process and hopes it is the beginning of a strong, respectful relationship in the future.含羞草研究社�

Chief Richard Thomas (Lyackson First Nation) said he 含羞草研究社渨as overwhelmed by the length of time it has taken to get here.含羞草研究社�

Chief Robert Thomas (Halalt First Nation) said 含羞草研究社淲e never relinquished our title to the land and that this treaty is for our future generations of children and grandchildren.含羞草研究社�

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

含羞草研究社淚t all speaks to a very much improved relationship between Canada, B.C., and First Nations.含羞草研究社�

sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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