Three B.C. First Nations sign treaty-related agreements

The first group to enter the B.C. treaty process more than 15 years ago finally has some progress to report after wrapping up treaty talks with the provincial government.

However the In-SHUCK-ch Nation still has some negotiating to do with the federal government before concluding a final treaty agreement.

Aboriginal Affairs Minister Mike de Jong says the proposed final agreement includes almost 15,000 hectares of provincial Crown land and 1,284 hectares of existing reserve lands near Mission in the Fraser Valley.

One of the biggest treaty benefits for the band will come when it is connected to the hydro grid by the end of 2010.

Gerard Peters, chief negotiator for the In-SHUCK-ch Nation, also says the treaty will bring improvements to forest service roads in the area that the communities rely on.

Since signing B.C.'s first modern-day urban treaty with the Tsawwassen First Nation the province has completed final agreements with five more first nations.

• 

  Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nations Summit. B.C,'s aboriginals are diverse -- as evidenced by the fact that more than 200 different First Nation communities exist in our province. But that number could soon change if a proposed agreement becomes reality. March 8, 2009.