K'ÓMOKS, BC, July 22,
2024 /CNW/ - Today, Elected Chief Ken Price of the K'ómoks First Nation (K'ómoks);
the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, federal Minister of
Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Murray Rankin, B.C.
Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, marked a
significant milestone towards renewing their nation-to-nation
relationships.
The Chief Negotiators of all three parties, witnessed by these
dignitaries, have initialled the draft K'ómoks Treaty, representing
a significant step toward K'ómoks becoming a self-governing First
Nation. This milestone aligns with K'ómoks's vision of
self-determination, and a prosperous, healthy future that honours
their people, culture, languages, and the land and water.
The next steps in this process include a treaty ratification
vote by K'ómoks First Nation. Should the K'ómoks community ratify
the treaty, the federal and provincial governments would then
undergo their own ratification processes through
legislation. It is anticipated the full ratification process
will take three years, with an effective treaty date projected for
2028.
This treaty represents significant shifts in the treaty
negotiations process in B.C., including finalizing the
Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty
Negotiations in British
Columbia in 2019. These positive changes reflect new
collaborative approaches to negotiation that expedite the process
and better address the needs and priorities of communities. They
align with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples and the B.C. Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples Act.
The parties look forward to finalizing this important work and
seeing the positive impact this historic agreement will have for
members of the K'ómoks First Nation, should they choose to ratify
the treaty, as well as for everyone living in B.C. and Canada.
Quotes
"Today is an exciting, memorable, and emotional day for the
K'ómoks People as we take one more step toward a K'ómoks Treaty.
Over the last three decades, many of our leaders have carried out
negotiations and have taken direction from our people, who have
participated along the way to build the best treaty possible.
Treaties are the highest form of reconciliation between nations,
and the K'ómoks Treaty will be the first of its kind with the
inclusions of innovative changes over the last few years, such as
recognition of rights and title, periodic renewal, and other
K'ómoks-specific winning conditions. The next steps are to engage
with our members to ensure accurate and fact-based information is
available, their questions are answered, and that they feel they
can make an informed decision on the K'ómoks Treaty and
Constitution."
Elected Chief Ken Price
K'ómoks First Nation
"The initialling of the K'ómoks Treaty marks a pivotal step
away from centuries of colonial policies. After 30 years of
negotiations involving K'ómoks, Canada, and British
Columbia, this treaty embodies transformative policy
innovations crucial to advancing reconciliation. For Canada, achieving this milestone with K'ómoks
and British Columbia represents a
significant stride toward genuine nation-to-nation relationships
built on mutual respect, partnership, and the full recognition of
rights. Through collaborative efforts throughout the negotiations,
we are advancing reconciliation and charting a path forward that
promises meaningful benefits for all Canadians."
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations
"Initialling the K'ómoks Treaty is another positive step in a
30-year journey that K'ómoks First Nation, B.C. and Canada continue to walk together. I recognize
and congratulate all those who have been instrumental in getting us
to this milestone. Decades of hard work by the negotiating teams,
and deep engagement with K'ómoks members, other people throughout
the region, other First Nations, local governments and industry
partners have shown us what we can achieve when we work
shoulder-to-shoulder. If ratified, the K'ómoks Treaty will bring
positive changes — a path to self-governance, recognition of
rights, social and economic opportunities — all leading towards a
prosperous and bright future for the K'ómoks people and for
everyone in the surrounding communities."
The Honourable Murray Rankin
British Columbia Minister of
Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation
Quick facts
- K'ómoks First Nation is one of over 200 First Nations in
B.C.
- K'ómoks Traditional Territory spans north from Quadra Island up to the southern reaches of
the Johnstone Strait, with the heart of K'ómoks territory located
in the Comox Valley on central
Vancouver Island's east coast. K'ómoks Reserves, including their
administration and territory, primarily surround the City of Courtenay.
- K'ómoks has 351 registered members, of whom 102 reside on the
reserve.
- K'ómoks, Canada, and
British Columbia have been in
treaty negotiations since 1994. These negotiations are now coming
to the close of "Stage 5 – Negotiation to Finalize a Treaty" of the
made-in-B.C. treaty negotiations process facilitated by the British
Columbia Treaty Commission.
- In March 2011, K'ómoks First
Nation voted in favour of the agreement-in-principle, which K'ómoks
First Nation, Canada, and
British Columbia signed in
March 2012. In June 2019, the parties signed the Agreement to
Revitalize K'ómoks Treaty Negotiations.
- K'ómoks has been working closely for many years with local
governments, neighbouring communities, and industry partners to
develop regional economic opportunities and services, including
working with the Comox Valley Regional District to secure
$30 million for modern wastewater
treatment in Royston and
Union Bay, and joining a
$35.9 million partnership with
Western Forest Products.
- On November 14, 2023, K'ómoks,
Canada, and British Columbia signed the Chief Negotiators'
understanding.
- Following the initialling of this treaty and before
ratification, Canada will be
continuing consultations with neighbouring nations on overlapping
land claims.
Associated links
- K'ómoks First Nation
- K'ómoks B.C. Treaty Negotiations
- Negotiations in progress
- British Columbia Treaty Commission (BCTC)
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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
Canada