Honourable Tom Christensen



	July 27, 2006 HEDLEY - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Bill Bennett, Minister of State for Mining, join Chief Richard Holmes of the Upper Similkameen Indian Band at the historic Mascot Mine. The Province and the Band signed a mining consultation agreement that ensures future environmental and sustainable mining development. It also allows the Province to assist the band in developing mining capacity within its territory. Click here for full-size photo



	July 5, 2006 VANCOUVER – The Province, Canada and the First Nations Education Steering Committee signed a historic agreement that will lead to recognition of First Nations’ jurisdiction over First Nations’ education in British Columbia. The ceremony took place at the Xweme'lch'stn Estimxwawtxw School, Squamish Nation. Back row (left to right): Education Minister Shirley Bond; Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Tom Christensen; Grand Chief Edward John (First Nations Summit); Tyrone McNeil (First Nations Education Steering Committee); and Jennifer Guscott (Acting Regional Director General of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada) Front row (left to right): Premier Gordon Campbell; Chief Negotiator Nathan Matthew (First Nations Education Steering Committee); Minister Jim Prentice (Indian and Northern Affairs Canada). Click here for more photos from this event



	June 21, 2006 VANCOUVER – Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins members of the Haisla Nation at a celebration to mark the repatriation of the G'psgolox totem pole from Sweden to the Haisla Nation. The ceremony took place on the grounds of the Vancouver Art Gallery on the 10th anniversary of National Aboriginal Day. Left to right: Gerald Amos (Chair of Totem Pole Committee) Louisa Smith (Totem Pole Committee member and spokesperson representing Chief G'psgolox -Dan Paul Sr.) Minister Christensen. Click here for more photos from this event



	VANCOUVER - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Richard Neufeld, Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, join Blueberry River First Nations Chief Norman Yahey to sign an Economic Benefits Agreement. The agreement builds a foundation of economic and land-use certainty in the province's northeast region by providing Blueberry River First Nation members with a share of the economic benefits from resource activity. Click here for full-size photo



	Renewing the Clayoquot Sound interim measures extension agreement brought together Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and leaders from five Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations in Ucluelet, May 26, 2006. Pictured are (top row left to right): Tyson Touchie, Councillor with the Ucluelet First Nation, Joe Tom, Chief Councillor of Hesquiaht, Keith Atleo, Chief Councillor of Ahousaht, and Moses Martin, Chief Councillor of Tla-o-qui-aht (bottom row left to right) Bert Mack, Hereditary Chief of Toquaht, Minister Tom Christensen, and Elder Nelson Keitlah of Ahousaht. Click here for full-size photo

	Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and five Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations renewed the Clayoquot Sound interim measures agreement in Ucluelet, May 26, 2006. Minister Christensen, Chief Councillors and Hereditary Chiefs attended a signing ceremony in Ucluelet. Here Minister Christensen receives a gift from Tyson Touchie, Councillor with Ucluelet First Nation. Click here for full-size photo



	VANCOUVER - Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Tom Christensen and Métis Nation British Columbia President Bruce Dumont signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord at a well-attended ceremony in Vancouver on May 12. The Accord symbolizes the strong working relationship that continues to grow between the Province of British Columbia and Métis Nation British Columbia. From left: Métis Nation British Columbia CEO Keith Henry, President Dumont, Minister Christensen, Senator Gerry St. Germain. Click here for full-size photo



	WHISTLER - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation discusses water stewardship while attending the BC Water and Waste Association 34th Annual Conference and Trade Show. Minister Christensen addressed the conference on behalf of Minister Barry Penner (Minister of Environment). The province and the Okanagan Basin Water Board recently announced a $550,000 partnership to complete the second phase of a water supply and demand study for the Okanagan Basin. Left to right: Nelson Porter (Operator Education Director, BC Water and Waste Association), Tom Christensen (Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation), James Tomma (Little Shuswap Indian Band), and Ernest Harry (Sliammon First Nation) Click here for full-size photo



	April 24, 2006 VICTORIA - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation joins Barry Penner, Minister of Environment to announce a new conservancy designation of protected areas vital to implementing the Central Coast and North Coast land use decisions. The purpose of the new conservancy designation is to set aside Crown land for the protection of its biological diversity, natural environments and recreational values, and the preservation and maintenance of First Nations’ social, ceremonial and cultural uses. Left to right: Art Sterrit (Executive Director, Coastal First Nations Turning Point Initiatives), Pat Bell (Minister of Agriculture and Lands), Kelly Brown (Land use planner, Heiltsuk First Nation), Barry Penner (Minister of Environment), Dallas Smith (Chair, KNT First Nations), Tom Christensen (Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation) For News Release click here Click here for full-size photo



	Nanaimo-Parksville MLA Ron Cantelon joins BC Assembly of First Nations Regional Chief Shawn Atleo and Malaspina University College President Rich Johnston at Malaspina's Centre for Shellfish Research in Nanaimo. On behalf of Minister Colin Hansen (Minister of Economic Development) and Minister Tom Christensen (Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation) MLA Cantelon announced provincial funding of $2.25 million to train up to 500 First Nations and coastal residents to participate in the growing seafood industry over the next five years. Left to right: Ron Cantelon (MLA for Nanaimo-Parksville), Shawn Atleo (Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations), Rich Johnston (President of Malaspina Univerity College). Click here for full-size photo Click here for more photos from this event


	March 31, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, presents a cheque to the First Peoples' Heritage, Language and Culture Council (FPHLCC) at the fourth annual First Citizens' Forum. The Province is contributing $1 million towards the preservation of B.C. First Nations languages. The funding doubles the amount of annual funding in previous years. Left to right: Tracey Herbert (FPHLCC Executive Director); Tom Christensen (Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation); Tyrone McNeil (FPHLCC Chair); and Shawn Atleo (Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations). Click here for language preservation video. Click here for full-size photo


	March 31, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, addresses the First Citizens' Forum in Vancouver. The forum provides a direct means for Aboriginal citizens to communicate directly with government about their priorities and ideas for an improved quality of life. Left to right: Grand Chief Ed John (First Nations Summit) Minister Tom Christensen; Murray Coell (Minister of Advanced Education and Minister responsible for Research and Technology) and George Abbott (Minister of Health). Click here for full-size photo



	March 21, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins Premier Gordon Campbell and members of the First Nations Leadership Council to announce the tabling of legislation to enact the $100-million New Relationship Trust that will help fund long-term capacity-building for First Nations. Left to right: Dave Porter, First Nations Summit, Chief Stewart Phillip, President of Union of BC Indian Chiefs, Premier Gordon Campbell, Minister Tom Christensen, Grand Chief Ed John, First Nations Summit. Click here for full-size photo Click here for more photos from this event



	March 9, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins Yale First Nation Chief Robert Hope and Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, to sign the Yale Agreement-in-Principle -- the sixth AIP signed in BC since 2003. Front row, left to right - Hon. Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Yale First Nation Chief Robert Hope, Hon. Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. Back row, left to right - Douglas Hansen, youth representative Yale First Nation, Chief Federal Negotiator, Eric Denhoff, Robert Emery, respected Yale First Nation member, Lorne Brownsey, Deputy Minister, Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation. Click here for full-size photo Click here for more photos from this event



	March 6, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Yale First Nation Chief Robert Hope, celebrate provincial approval of the Yale Agreement-in-Principle at the B.C. Legislature. Click here for full-size photo



	March 2, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, observes a tank of cockles while touring the Shellfish Research Centre (SRC) at Malaspina College in Nanaimo, B.C. From left to right: Don Tillapaugh, SRC Director; David Drakeford, Dean of Science and Technology; Minister Tom Christensen; Dr. Yomi Alabi, Shellfish Health and Husbandry Research Program. Click here for full-size photo



	February 2, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, addresses the Nisga'a Legislature in New Aiyansh. Minister Christensen toured Nisga'a territory in the Nass Valley in northwestern B.C. Click here for full-size photo



	January 27, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Assembly of First Nations National Grand Chief Phil Fontaine, present the Community Development Award to Wendy Grant-John at the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards in Vancouver. The Awards encourage and celebrate excellence in First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities across Canada. Ms. Grant-John was recognized for her 30-year career of advancing Aboriginal cultural, economic, social and political development in Canada. Click here for full-size photo


	January 27, 2006 - Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins Education Minister Shirley Bond, Aboriginal Elders, students and staff at Clinton Elementary School in Burnaby. Ministers Bond and Christensen launched Elders in the Classroom, a study to help determine how to better involve First Nation elders in schools. Click here for more photos from this event



	January 20, 2006 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins Sechelt Indian Band Chief, Stan Dixon, to celebrate the 20-year extension of Sechelt's self-government agreement. From left to right: Brian Woodward, Sechelt Indian Band Administrator, Constable Kelly Allan, Chief Stan Dixon, Constable Glen Martin, Minister Tom Christensen, Steven Point, B.C. Treaty Commissioner. Click here for full-size photo



	January 19, 2006 Leq’a:mel Chief Susan McKamey joins Rich Coleman, Minister of Forests and Range, and Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, to announce the signing of the 100th forestry agreement with First Nations. Click here for full-size photo



	January, 19, 2006 Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Tom Christensen speaks at the Truck Loggers 63rd Annual Convention and Trade Show in Vancouver. Click here for full-size photo



	December 1, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, joins Lieutenant-Governor Iona Campagolo at the First Nations Summit meeting in North Vancouver to honour Aboriginal veterans for their service in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War and in peacekeeping missions around the world. Click here for full-size photo



	November 28, 2005 Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Tom Christensen joins Premier Campbell, Minister Colin Hansen, the Four Host Nations and Squamish artist Aaron Nelson-Moody to unveil doors destined for BC-Canada Place at the Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy. From left to right: Minister Tom Christensen, Squamish artist tawx'sin yexwulla (Aaron Nelson-Moody), Musqueam Chief Ernie Campbell, Premier Gordon Campbell, Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson, Squamish Chief Bill Williams, Lil'wat Chief Leonard Andrew and Minister Colin Hansen. Click here for full-size photo



	November 3, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs share a light moment while discussing the New Relationship on Voice of B.C. Click here for full-size photo



	October 29, 2005 Premier Gordon Campbell and Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, celebrate connecting the Okanagan Nation's Enowkin Center in Penticton through the Digital Divide Program. Front row, left to right - Penticton Mayor David Perry, Joan Phillip holding grandson Marcus Phillip-Adam, Penticton Indian Band Chief Stewart Phillip, Premier Gordon Campbell. Back row, left to right - Bob Gibney, FORTISBC First Nations Executive Liaison, Minister Tom Christensen, Penticton-Okanagan Valley MLA Bill Barisoff. Click here for full-size photo



	October 18, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, and B.C. Aboriginal leaders address delegates at the B.C. Assembly of First Nations' 2nd Regional Chiefs Assembly in Kamloops. From L-R: Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs Secretary/Treasurer Chief Mike Retasket and Vice-President Chief Robert Shintah, Minister Christensen, Grand Chief Ed John and Chief Doug Kelly of the First Nations Summit and Chief Shawn Atleo of the B.C. Assembly of First Nations. The event was co-hosted by the Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and the B.C. First Nations Leadership Council. Click here for full-size photo



	October 15, 2005 Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Tom Christensen (second from left), joins (from L-R) Nanaimo Mayor Gary Korpan, Snuneymuxw Chief John Wesley and Snuneymuxw economic development officer Dave Mannix following the signing of a protocol agreement between the City of Nanaimo and the Snuneymuxw First Nation. The protocol agreement enables the city and the First Nation to work together on local issues and opportunities of common interest. Click here for full-size photo



	October 3, 2005 Prince George - Representatives of the First Peoples' Heritage, Language and Culture Council present Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, with a painting as a reminder of their ongoing efforts to revitalize Aboriginal languages, arts and cultures in British Columbia. Pictured from left to right are council vice-chair Chief Jacob McKay, executive director Tracey Herbert, Minister Christensen and council chairperson Tyrone McNeil. Click here for full-size photo



	September 26, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (right), joins Chief Ian Campbell, a hereditary chief of the Squamish Nation, to celebrate the start of construction at the Skwxwú7mesh Lil’wat7ul (Squamish Lil’wat) Cultural Centre in Whistler. At the event, Premier Gordon Campbell announced B.C. will double its support for the project to $6 million. Representatives of the Lil'wat Nation, Bell Canada, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games and the Municipality of Whistler also participated in the ceremony. Click here for full-size photo



	September 28, 2005 Alana Sayers from the Hupacasath First Nation visits with Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation at the First Nations Summit meeting in North Vancouver. Miss Sayers addressed the Summit on behalf of the First Nations Youth Caucus. Click here for full-size photo



	September 26, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, addresses session delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities convention in Vancouver. Minister Christensen was joined on the panel by representatives from the First Nations Leadership Council. Click here for full-size photo



	September 20, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, responds to questions at the First Nations Mountain Pine Beetle Forum in Prince George. Representatives from more than 80 First Nations and Aboriginal communities attended the conference to discuss the mountain pine beetle epidemic. Click here for full-size photo



	August 22, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (left) and Sue Barnes, Parliamentary Secretary for Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (right) join Allan Joseph, Chief of the Yekooche First Nation, to sign the Yekooche Agreement in Principle in Yekooche north of Fort St. James. The signing was witnessed by (standing, left to right) Lorne Brownsey, Provincial Deputy Minister, Curtis Joseph, Yekooche Councillor and Eric Denhoff, Chief Federal Negotiator. Click here for full-size photo



	Okanagan Nation Alliance Annual General Meeting - "Honouring the Elders" - August 19, 2005 Left to Right: Councillor Emery Robins, Councillor Jon Spotted Eagle, Councillor Allan Louis, Tom Christensen Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Chief Fabian Alexis, Councillor Tim Alexis, Councillor Tim Isaac at the Okanagan Nation Alliance AGM, August 19, 2005. Click here for full-size photo



	June 27, 2005 Tom Christensen, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation greets Bear River First Nation elder Agnes Potter at the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Meeting of Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and National Aboriginal Leaders in Ottawa. Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Minister Andy Scott appears in the centre-background. The Bear River First Nation is one of thirteen First Nation communities in Nova Scotia. Click here for full-size photo



	Mr. Ric Parker, Veteran, Vancouver Island Aboriginal Veterans Association with Grand Chief Ed John, First Nations Summit and Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, Tom Christensen at the National Aboriginal Day Celebrations held at the BC Legislature honouring Aboriginal Veterans across British Columbia. Click here for more photos from this event