Question Period Note: Wet’suwet’en MOU

• In 1997, the Supreme Court of Canada encouraged parties in Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa [del-dum-OOK gis-day-away] to pursue good faith negotiations regarding Aboriginal rights.
• This MOU establishes a path for substantive negotiations towards agreements that would describe the implementation of Wet’suwet’en rights and title.
• The parties are working toward an agreement on recognition of rights and title that will set the stage for future negotiations and implementation.
• Such agreements, once reached, will be taken back to all Wet’suwet’en people through a ratification process that must clearly demonstrate their support.

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If pressed on Nathan Cullen (85):
• Mr. Cullen already had an established role with the government of British Columbia to facilitate conversations with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and to represent the government’s position.
• We formalized his role to indicate to them that the views of the federal government were also being conveyed by Mr. Cullen to advance the conversation.
• Due to the unpredictable nature of the situation, Mr. Cullen’s contract was designed in such a way that would allow for necessary flexibility. The final compensation will be disclosed through Public Accounts.

Hereditary Chiefs Engagement with Elected Chiefs (86)
• It was the hereditary chiefs who took the case of Wet’suwet’en rights and title to the Supreme Court of Canada.
• This MOU establishes a path for substantive negotiations towards agreements that would describe the implementation of Wet’suwet’en rights and title.
• We expect there will be sustained engagement by the Wet’suwet’en hereditary leaders with their house groups and with the elected leaders of the Bands.

• Agreements, once reached, will be taken back to all Wet’suwet’en people through a ratification process that must clearly demonstrate their support .
 
Pipeline (79)

• Our discussions in February with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs and the BC government on the negotiation of the MOU focused on two distinct issues - Wet’suwet’en rights and title and issues arising out of the CGL pipeline.

• Federal discussions since the signing of the MOU have continued to focus on Wet’suwet’en rights and title.

• The CGL pipeline remains entirely within provincial jurisdiction and I would refer you to comments made by the BC Government with respect to that project.

If Pressed on Delays (78 words)

• All parties have been working hard toward an agreement on the affirmation of rights and title that will set the stage for future negotiations and implementation.

• Given COVID-19 restrictions, all Parties have been flexible in how we negotiate these agreements and the timelines for achieving milestones.

• The recent BC election has also had an impact on these tripartite discussions

• All parties remain committed to reaching agreements that would describe the implementation of Wet’suwet’en rights and title and governance.

Matriarch’s concerns (43)

• The Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs acknowledge the need for community engagement.

• We support the important role that matriarchs play in many Indigenous societies and look forward to continuing to work with Wet’suwet’en to ensure that all of the voices in their nation are heard.