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Your B.C. Government

New Relationship, Treaties, and Agreements

Your B.C. Government is negotiating treaties and agreements with First Nations to reconcile Aboriginal rights and title issues, improve the quality of life for Aboriginal people, stimulate investment, establish certainty over land base, and create jobs and expand economic opportunities for all British Columbians throughout B.C.

What your B.C. Government is doing for the New Relationship, Treaties, and Agreements:

  • As of today your B.C. Government has signed modern-day treaties with six First Nations. 
  • These include the first urban treaty in the history of British Columbia and the first modern treaty negotiated under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process – the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty – which provides the First Nation with a land base, self government provisions, and defines their rights to resources such as fish and wildlife.
  • The treaty officially took effect on April 3, 2009, providing Tsawwassen First Nation with approximately 724 hectares of treaty settlement land and a capital transfer and other one-time cash payments of $33.6 million and self-government funding of $2.9 million annually over the first five years of the treaty.
  • Your B.C. Government has also signed the first treaty involving multiple First Nations with the Maa-nulth First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island.    
  • The Maa-nulth treaty will enable five First Nations to exercise self-government over their land base and defines their rights to resources such as fish, wildlife, and timber.
  • The Maa-nulth First Nations treaty provides approximately 24,550 hectares of treaty settlement lands and $73.1 million and increases certainty on Vancouver Island, and allows for economic development, investment and job creation without the restraints of the Indian Act.
  • 60 First Nations, representing two-thirds of all Aboriginal people in B.C., are represented at one of the 49 ongoing negotiations in the treaty process. 43 of those First Nations are at the fourth stage, working toward an Agreement-in-Principle.
  • Incremental Treaty Agreements were introduced in November 2008 to allow First Nations and the Province to enjoy shared benefits in advance of a Final Agreement.  To date, the Province has signed incremental treaties with the Tla-o-qui-aht and Klahoose First Nations.
  • Resolved cut-off claims disputes with the Seton Lake Indian Band, Gitwangak Band Council, Metlakatla Band and Lax Kw'alaams Indian Band – the remaining, nearly century old, disputes in B.C.
  • Transferred ownership of the University of British Columbia golf course, two parcels of land in Pacific Spirit Park, the Bridge Point Casino land to the Musqueam First Nation as well as a cash payment of $20.3 million. The agreement resolves three court cases and reconciles a long-standing claim of the band.
  • Settled Songhees and Esquimalt First Nations claim worth $31 million relating to land in downtown Victoria that includes the B.C. Legislature.
  • The Province and BC Hydro signed an historic final agreement with the Kwadacha and Tsey Keh Dene First Nations that addresses historic damages from the creation and operation of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir and builds opportunities for Kwadacha and Tsay Keh Dene to build a better future for current and future generations.
  • Signed a 13-year Economic Benefit Agreement with Blueberry River First Nations providing annual revenue sharing and seven land and resource management agreements.
  • Signed the Métis Nation Relationship Accord to close socio-economic gaps and provided $1.1 million to support this Accord.

For More Information:
Treaties and other negotiations
Information on the Treaty process
The New Relationship