Question Period Note: Tŝilhqot’in Negotiations

Tŝilhqot’in Negotiations
• Negotiations between the Tŝilhqot’in (Sill-ko-teen) Nation, the Province of British-Columbia and the Government of Canada are continuing and include discussions on the relationship between the First Nation and non-Indigenous stakeholders on the declared Aboriginal title lands.
• Canada recognizes that there is work to be done and is supportive of tripartite stakeholder engagement, at the appropriate times in the negotiation process.
• Canada remains committed to working with all parties to establish clarity and predictability for residents within the Tŝilhqot’in (Sill-ko-teen) declared title area.

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If pressed on 3rd party interests in the Declared Title Area
• In August 2019, Canada, Tŝilhqot’in and British Columbia signed the Gwets’en Nilt’I (Gwets en neel tee) Pathway Agreement.
• This five-year tripartite framework:
o establishes clear steps towards achieving reconciliation with the Tŝilhqot’in people;
o sets out processes for recognizing Tŝilhqot’in Nation governance, and
o seeks to reduce conflict and build consensus around land management.
• Implementation of the Pathway Agreement is a critical next step towards achieving stability and predictability of Tŝilhqot’in, federal and provincial laws and jurisdictions over declared Aboriginal title lands and throughout the Tŝilhqot’in traditional territory.