Background
Negotiating status
: Negotiating a comprehensive treaty settlement within the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process.
Negotiating affiliation
: Negotiating independently with Canada and British Columbia. Not affiliated with any tribal council or treaty group.
Location
:On the Fraser River, near Port Hammond in Maple Ridge. (Five reserves on 340.7 hectares.)
Total band members
: 484 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)
Negotiations
The Katzie First Nation entered the treaty process in February 1994, and is now in Stage 4 of the six-stage process, negotiating an agreement in principle (AIP).
Negotiations with Katzie are currently focussed on land identification, fish and forest resources.
Katzie has completed all of the AIP “process” chapters. Several other chapters are close to completion, including key topics such as Wildlife, Environmental Management, Parks, Migratory Birds and Culture and Heritage.
In 2006, Katzie completed a $150,000 Governance, Culture and Heritage Treaty Related Measure (TRM) that assists in developing land management protocols with local government. It is also undertaking a $178,000 Land Identification TRM, to be completed in 2007.
The table’s immediate goals are to identify treaty settlement land, explore Katzie’s role in the management of Golden Ears Provincial Park, and continue negotiation of the AIP Fish, Land and Governance chapters.
Other Activities
Katzie signed a Forest and Range Agreement with Ministry of Forests in March 2005 and is negotiating with the Ministry of Forests to determine where the volume assigned to them in that agreement will be cut.
Economic development initiatives, and a continued effort to build positive working relationships with local government, particularly the Greater Vancouver Regional District, are key strategies of the Katzie First Nation.
The proposed Golden Ears Bridge linking Pitt Meadows to Surrey via 200th Street passes close to Katzie’s main residential reserves at Pitt Meadows, Langley and Barnston Island and through its heaviest use area for salmon fishing. The project triggered the provincial environmental assessment process and Katzie participated in that process and negotiated a benefits agreement with Translink that provides jobs and training for Katzie people, and an ongoing relationship with the proponent throughout construction of the bridge.
An intergovernmental relations working group is studying and building relationships with local governments.
Planned Meetings
Open main table negotiations sessions are scheduled to the end of December, 2004. As dates are confirmed, they will be publicized through local media and posted on the British Columbia Treaty Commission website Negotiations Calendar. |
Final Agreements
Principle
