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Tlowitsis Guardians Archaeology Program
Tlowitsis Guardians Archaeology Program – Click Here
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News and Events
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Keepers of the Coast: Ancient knowledge and modern science…
Watch a new video about the work of the NVI Guardians. The Guardian program is one of many projects being implemented in the North Vancouver Island Marine Plan.
Keepers of the Coast from Josie Byington on Vimeo.
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The new Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for…
The new Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for Treaty Negotiations in British Columbia, ratified on September 4, 2019, was made possible due to this pre-existing, tripartite relationship between Canada, the Province of British Columbia and the First Nations Summit. The parties share the same goals to improve treaty negotiations in British Columbia. With both the federal government and the Province of British Columbia committing to implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action, the parties recognized the opportunity to make profound improvements to how treaty negotiations are approached in British Columbia.
The new BC-specific policy captures ongoing work and new innovations at negotiation tables across British Columbia. It also builds on the work of the 2016 “Multilateral Engagement process” and the more recent “Principals Accord” and draws on the experience gained by the negotiating parties since treaty negotiations began.
This BC-specific policy supports an approach to treaty negotiations based on the recognition of rights. A central feature of the BC-specific policy is that negotiations recognize the continuation of rights without modification, surrender or extinguishment when a treaty is reached. Under the BC-specific policy, future treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements will set out guidelines for reconciling Crown and Indigenous rights based on co-existence that can evolve over time. It also provides greater flexibility to develop agreements incrementally in British Columbia.
For more information and a complete copy of the policy document, please visit the BC Government website
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TCAG members take emotional journey to Tlowitsis traditional territory
The Tlowitsis Community Advisory Group (TCAG) joined Chief John Smith and Councillor John Smith for an emotional journey to Tlowitsis traditional territory. Most members on the trip were visiting Tlowitsis territory for the first time in their lives. The full-day voyage took TCAG members up Johnstone Strait, past Port Neville, and from Tlowitsis Island to Turnour Island, where the group stopped to visit Kalagwees, the site of our nation’s former winter village. Over eight hours on the water, TCAG members had a chance to see current Tlowitsis reserves, along with some of the vast lands currently under consideration as part of the Tlowitsis’ treaty negotiations with BC and Canada. The group was also thrilled to see a pod of orcas during their journey up Johnstone Strait, and a humpback whale on the return home. To view the photos from this special voyage, visit our photo gallery here
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2019 Budget and Treaty Loan Forgiveness
In its March 2019 Budget, Canada announced that it would forgive all past and current loans to First Nations for comprehensive claims and treaty negotiations. This welcome decision – which means that past loans will not be deducted from Tlowitsis’ land and cash treaty settlement as was past practice, is a critical element in the advancement of reconciliation, especially for First Nations in British Columbia.
Loans have been a large burden for First Nations that have concluded negotiations, have been an obstacle for those currently in negotiations and has been a huge barrier for First Nations wishing to enter into negotiations. The First Nations Summit has always maintained that First Nations should not have to borrow money from the very governments who wrongfully took all Indigenous lands in BC in the colonial era, without any notice, consent or agreement. Treaty negotiation debt has left First Nations at a significant financial and economic disadvantage. This debt has also had detrimental economic, social and political impacts on First Nations that have been working to resolve the outstanding land question in BC through treaty negotiations for decades.
For more information, visit the First Nations summit website.