Treaty negotiations could see transfer of two B.C. parks to Vancouver Island First Nations
A pair of provincial parks are being considered in the B.C. government's treaty negotiations with the T’Sou-ke and Songhees nations on Vancouver Island.
The T’Sou-ke First Nation could see the return of Sooke Mountain Provincial Park as part of their traditional lands while the Songhees First Nation could once again manage the lands making up Discovery Island Marine Park, which sits off Oak Bay, B.C.
"We need our space," said Chief Gordon Planes of the T'Sou-ke Nation on Wednesday.
"How can we be T’Sou-ke without that space to practise who we are as T’Sou-ke people?" he said. "Our territory is who we are."
In a release, Songhees Nation chief Ron Sam said Discovery Island is one of the last areas of the nation's original territory that has remained untouched over the past 200 years.
"Many of our nation's generations have lived on this sacred island, and its rich surroundings reflect our peoples' relationship to the land and water," he said.
As part of the deal, the nations have agreed to maintain public access and continue recreational use in the parks.
"Before contact, our people co-existed with Mother Nature by following the footsteps of our ancestors in enhancing our territory, this insured a good life for our future generations," said Planes.
"From the first contact, we all took too much too fast, and now is the time to reverse that," he said. "Let's work together to enhance our watersheds and food forest. We owe it to our children and our children who are not born yet, they are our most valued currency."
B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said the two provincial parks in question hold cultural significance to the T'Sou-ke and Songhees First Nations.
"These treaty negotiations recognize the cultural and social significance of these lands to Te'mexw Member Nations, and set us on a clear path to reconciliation while also continuing to uphold the ecological and conservation values of these special places, as well as continued recreational access for the general public," he said.
TREATY NEGOTIATIONS
The T’Sou-ke, Songhees, Malahat, Beecher (SC'IA⁄NEW)and Snaw-Naw-As nations are all part of the Te’mexw Treaty Association (TTA), which began negotiations with the provincial and federal governments in 1995.
The five First Nations of the TTA are negotiating together, but the negotiations will result in five separate treaties.
"These treaties are intended to recognize the pre-existing rights and title of the five Te'mexw Member Nations and provide the basis for a revitalized relationship between Canada, B.C. and these First Nations," said Murray Rankin, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, in a statement.
"Treaties help everyone in B.C. by providing better clarity for First Nations and surrounding communities and will result in better social and economic opportunities for all communities in southern Vancouver Island," he said.
The completion of the treaties are expected in the next few years.
The public is invited to a series of open houses that will take place from late February until April to learn more about the proposed treaties with the TTA nations.
The open house dates can be found below:
- Saturday, Feb. 25, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Songhees Wellness Centre, 1100 Admirals Rd., Victoria
- Thursday, March 2, 4:30-7 p.m., Edward Milne Community school, 6218 Sooke Rd., Sooke
- Saturday, March 4, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m., Quarterdeck, Royal Roads University, 2005 Sooke Rd., Colwood
- Monday, March 6, 4:30-7 p.m., Nanoose Bay Community Centre, 2925 NW Bay Rd., Nanoose Bay
- Tuesday, March 7, 4:30-7 p.m., George Jay Elementary, 1118 Princess Ave., Victoria
- Saturday, March 11, 11 a.m. until 2 p.m., Shawnigan Lake Community Hall, 2804 Shawnigan Lake Rd., Shawnigan Lake
- Wednesday, March 15, 4:30-7 p.m., Metchosin Community Hall, 4401 William Head Rd., Victoria
Virtual Open Houses (pre-registration required)
- Wednesday, April 5, 2:30-4 p.m.
- Thursday, April 13, 6-7:30 p.m.
More information on the treaty process can be found on the Province of B.C. website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.