User:OldManRivers/British Columbia Treaty Process

The British Columbia Treaty Process is a land claims negotiation process with the outstanding issues in British Columbia First Nations. The history dates back to the Royal Proclamation which stated that "treaties" had to be signed with the indigenous people when Britain expanded foward. This produced the numbered treaties. Except British Columbia is rare in Canada in that virtually no treaties have been signed, with the except of a few on Vancouver Island with the Douglas Treaties and the Nisga'a Final Agreement settlement in 2001.

Currently, three treaties have been negotiated. The Nisga'a Treaty is considered separate from the Treaty Process because it was negotiated outside the process, but has been called a blueprint for the current process. To represent the interests of First Nations involved with the process, the First Nations Summit was created. This marks a total of 58 First Nations in the process, but only 20 are said to be making progress. This brings about 40% not involved in the treaty process at all.

History
The process began in 1992 with the release of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal peoples, and the aftermath of the Oka Crisis. 1 billions of dollars have been spent on the negotiation process, with $300 million being borrowed by First Nations. One treaty was rejected, by the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation. Two have been ratified, the Tsawassen First Nation and the Maa-nulth Treaty Group, a five First Nations group from the Nuu-chah-nulth.

Process
The treaty process is a 6-stage negotiations between the Federal government of Canada, Provincial government, and Indian Act First Nations. It is overseen by the British Columbia Treaty Commission.

Criticisms
The voice of criticisms have come from different angles in indigenous communities across British Columbia, and general non-native society as well. About 2/3rds of First Nations are not involved with the Treaty Process, some have formed the "Unity Protocol", calling for a overhaul of the entire process.


 * Extinguishment of Aboriginal title
 * Continued assimilation strategies
 * Changing the indigenous peoples form nations to municipal style government.