Taku River Tlingit First Nations
Background
Negotiating status: Negotiating a treaty settlement within the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process.
Negotiating affiliation: Negotiating independently with Canada and British Columbia. Not affiliated with a tribal council or treaty group.
Location: Reserves and settlements around Atlin Lake and Teslin Lake. (10 reserves on 1,263.9 hectares)
Total band members
:
371 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence May 2009, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)
Negotiations
Taku River Tlingit First Nation entered the B.C. treaty process in December 1993. Later it joined forces with three First Nations from the Yukon Territory at the Northern Regional Negotiations Table as part of a transboundary claim. TRTFN has since dropped out of the NRN and is again negotiating independently. Negotiations are in the early phase of Stage 4, the negotiation of an agreement-in-principle.
Other Activities
In June 2004, 15 northern First Nations and organizations with asserted traditional territory in northern BC, the Yukon and Northwest Territories signed an agreement to form the Northern Nations Alliance. The agreement states that all decisions affecting the future of Northern Nations Alliance lands will be made in a cooperative manner with all signatory nations as full and equal participants.
The Northern Nations Alliance includes: Taku River Tlingit First Nation (BC), Carcross/Tagish First Nations (Yukon), Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (Yukon), Dakh Ka Tlingit Nation (Yukon), Daylu Dena Council (BC – aka Lower Post FN), Dease River First Nation (BC), Iskut First Nation (BC), Kaska Dena Council (BC), Kaska Tribal Council (BC & Yukon), Kwadacha Nation (BC), Ross River Dena Council (Yukon), Tahltan Band Council (BC), Tahltan Central Council (BC) and Teslin Tlingit First Nation (Yukon).
In 2006, the Province announced a contribution of $1.4 million to Taku Land Corporation for a $10-million alternative energy hydroelectric project. The Taku Land Corporation is solely owned by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation. The 2.0 MW project is on Pine Creek, about four km northeast of the town of Atlin. The project uses the flow from Pine Creek to generate power, and connect to the existing BC Hydro power grid. BC Hydro and the Taku Land Corporation signed an Energy Purchase Agreement to secure energy from the project while providing a revenue stream for the Taku Land Corporation for 25 years.
In 2007, the Province and TRTFN signed a letter of understanding to address First Nations issues in the development of the proposed Ruby Creek molybdenum mine near Atlin. As part of the conditions for environmental approval of the mine, the proponent must assist the TRTFN in the development of a community adaptive management and monitoring plan and support the establishment of the Tlingit Cultural Enhancement Program.
In 2008, the Province and TRTFN signed a framework agreement to work together to create a plan for sustainable use of natural resources in north-western B.C. The agreement includes the creation of a joint land forum made up of representatives from the Province and the TRTFN.
Planned Meetings
As dates are established for public treaty negotiations meetings, they will be publicized through the local media and on the B.C. Treaty Commission website Negotiations Calendar.
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Final Agreements
Principle
