Incremental Treaty Agreements
Incremental Treaty Agreements allow First Nations and the Province to enjoy shared benefits
in advance of a Final Agreement. Incremental Treaty Agreements build trust among the parties,
create incentives to reach further milestones and provide increased certainty
over land and resources.
An Incremental Treaty Agreement is not a replacement for treaty. An Incremental Treaty Agreement
advances treaty-related benefits for the First Nations and the Province.
They are pre-treaty agreements, not Final Agreements.
The signing of ITAs by the five First Nations, members of the Te'mexw Treaty Association,
will provide them with land to create economic and commercial opportunities that support
employment and new sources of revenue. Scia'new Nation (Beecher Bay), Malahat Nation,
Snaw-naw-as Nation, Songhees Nation and T'Sou-ke Nation will own the lands in fee simple
under a First Nation-designated company, and will be subject to the same federal and
provincial laws and municipal bylaws and regulations as with any other privately held
property.
For more information on the Scia'new Nation (Beecher Bay), Malahat Nation, Snaw-naw-as Nation,
Songhees Nation and T'Sou-ke Nation ITAs click here.
The signing of ITAs by the two First Nations, members of the Tsimshian First Nations
Treaty Society, will create near-term economic opportunities in the community of
Terrace and surrounding area, as well as offer lands for community and/or cultural
purposes. Kitsumkalum and Kitselas will own the lands in fee simple.
They will remain under the jurisdiction of municipal government until
a final treaty is reached with each First Nation. Post-treaty, the ITA
lands will become treaty settlement lands.
For more information on the Kitsumkalum and Kitselas
ITAs click here.
The extension and amendment to the Incremental Treaty Agreement (ITA) will accelerate the
transfer of a 12.1-hectare parcel of land to support commercial tourism development, jobs
and economic opportunities around the Tla-o-qui-aht‘s Best Western Tin-Wis Resort.
Under the terms of the ITA signed in 2008, the land would have been transferred when the
Tla-o-qui-aht, B.C. and Canada initialled a final treaty agreement. Under the amended and
extended ITA, the land can be transferred much sooner, with the signing of an agreement-in-principle.
Signing of the agreement-in-principle triggers the transfer of a total 28.3 hectares in the resort
municipality of Tofino. The amendment to the ITA is part of B.C.‘s efforts to ensure First Nations
are able to benefit from treaty in advance of final agreements. B.C. is also providing $200,000 in
capacity funding to the Tla-o-qui-aht, the final payment of $600,000 associated with the ITA.
For more information about the Tla-o-qui-aht Incremental Treaty Agreement
amendments, click here.
The Incremental Treaty Agreement between Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations and B.C. was the
first signed between the Province and a First Nation.
The Incremental Treaty Agreement was a four year agreement signed in November 2008 which
provided approximately 63 hectares of land and capacity building and communications
funding totalling $600,000 to Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations. These benefits are
considered an advance by B.C. of a portion of the provincial share of a future
treaty settlement package.
For more information about the Tla-o-qui-aht Incremental Treaty
Agreement, click here.
The Klahoose First Nation signed an Incremental Treaty Agreement on
March 5, 2009. Under the terms of the agreement, Klahoose First
Nation will receive $2.1 million, which they will use to purchase
Tree Farm Licence 10, and $150,000 in two instalments to advance
treaty negotiations and build economic development capacity. The
purchase of the tree farm licence will create jobs and new business
opportunities for the Klahoose and surrounding communities.
For more information about the Klahoose First Nation Incremental Treaty
Agreement, click here.
Under the terms of the ITA, Nazko First Nation will receive 275 hectares of Crown land.
The first transfer is of two parcels totalling more than 103 hectares, near the main Nazko
community west of Quesnel. The remainder of the lands are to be transferred upon ratification
of an Agreement in Principle. Early land transfers are considered an advance by B.C. of
a portion of the provincial share of a future treaty settlement package.
For more information about the Nazko First Nation Incremental Treaty
Agreement, click here.
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