Four First Nations sign tentative agreement with BC, federal governments

CANIM LAKE, BC – A group of four First Nations communities in the Cariboo region of British Columbia has signed an agreement in principle with the provincial and federal governments, which brings a closer relationship between the two. establishment of an official treaty.

a treaty for the four communities, including ownership of lands and resources, harvesting rights, social services and transition processes from the Indian Act to self-government .

Chief Ann Louie of the Williams Lake First Nation exelc in a statement that Sunday's signature was a "big day", representing the culmination of 25 years of discussions to end the control of the Indian Act on his group.

The agreement signed Sunday in the community Tsq & c. Canim Lake begins the last stage of treaty negotiations with the communities that form the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw

A joint statement issued by the bands, the Government of Canada and the Government o British Columbia stated that the treaty informed by the agreement would be guided by the "new reconciliation commitments" of governments.

The Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw is made up of the Stswecem & # 39; c-Xgat & # 39; tem, the T & # 39; exelc, the Tsq & # 39; escen & # 39; and the Xat First Nations & # 39; sull; The group represents nearly 2,000 people.