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South Okanagan Photos

Interior first nations upset with Liberal government in Victoria

With thanks Photographer David P. Ball
With thanks Photographer David P. Ball

LIBERALS CONTINUE TO SPREAD MISINFORMATION ABOUT ITS BROKEN ABORIGINAL POLICY

The Okanagan Nation Alliance is releasing correspondence between the ONA, the Province of British Columbia, and Canada which provides further evidence of the Clark Government spreading misinformation about its decision to sign an Incremental Treaty Agreement with the Ktunaxa First Nation.  The agreement has been the subject of growing controversy as the lands that are proposed to be transferred to Ktunaxa under the agreement, are in an area where, amongst other things, there are traditional village sites, harvesting practices, and heritage sites of significant importance to the ONA.

The agreement was signed by the Province despite the fact that the Province never met with the ONA, never responded to a number of letters seeking a meeting and raising serious concerns about the proposed agreement, and never engaged in any consultation and accommodation.   Confronted with these facts, former Minister Ida Chong as well as the Ministry itself, continued to spread misinformation:

·        Ida Chong, as reported in the Tyee, states – “I can tell you if traditional village sites had been raised immediately when they were provided with the maps, I think that would have been cause, as I say, to determine whether the strength of claim was as strong as it was.”  The attached letter from the ONA to the Province and Canada dated January 18 clearly shows that village sites were raised.

·        Ida Chong, as reported in the Tyee, “maintained there was ongoing correspondence between her former ministry and the ONA, adding a face to face meeting might have been too difficult to arrange since provincial, federal, and ONA officials would need to be present.”  The attached letter from the ONA to the Province and Canada dated January 18 illustrate requests from the ONA to meet.  After the January 18 letter from the ONA, which requested a meeting, the Province never contacted the ONA to set up a meeting and never replied to the January 18 letter before announcing they had signed the agreement with Ktunaxa on April 9.

·        Ida Chong, as reported in the Tyee said that “the Ktunaxa, who have been negotiating their treaty for 20 years, were so eager to sign their agreement that they couldn’t wait until after the election to have a formal signing event.”  This is contradicted by the Ktunaxa Nation.  Kathryn Teneese of the Ktunaxa Nation Council, as reported in the Tyee said  “The thing about it is we’ve been talking about this ITA for a couple of years now, and the unfortunate thing is the present government wanted to get it done before the writ was dropped, and obviously that’s been cause for concern.”  Further, “they wanted to get it done, this government wanted to get it done.”

·        The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation put out a statement on Thursday saying “Consultation began in October, when B.C. and Canada sent letters to ONA and all the Okanagan Bands, initiating the consultation. ONA subsequently responded to the letter and B.C. responded back” and “Canada and B.C. will continue to engage once we have confirmed that we are consulting with the appropriate parties.”  As the attached letter shows, the leaders of every community of the ONA signed a joint letter on January 18 explicitly telling the governments to meet with them collectively.  Instead of responding or trying to meet, the Province went ahead and signed and announced the agreement on April 9. 

“For First Nations, protecting and advancing their Title and Rights is a sacred trust and responsibility.  Reaching agreements is an important part of that – and many First Nations have negotiated agreements that are important milestones, and of significant benefit to them. I applaud that. But what it is starting to look like is that the Clark Government, in its last days, in certain instances rushed and pushed to sign agreements even though they could have serious consequences for others, and basic legal principles were not adhered to.   This lust for political “wins” is now sparking massive conflict on the Fraser River concerning the Yale Treaty, and is damaging relations and causing conflict in the interior,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Chair of the Okanagan Nation Alliance.  “The ONA renews its call for the Clark Government to be accountable and take responsibility.  They messed up.  Own up to your mistake in this instance, and acknowledge that it needs to be rectified through immediate and real steps,” he added.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance (ONA) was formed in 1981 as the inaugural First Nations government in the Okanagan which represents the 8 member communities: Okanagan Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Westbank First Nation, Penticton Indian Band, Osoyoos Indian Band, Lower Similkameen Indian Band, Upper Similkameen Indian Band, and the Colville Confederated Tribes on issues of common concern. Each community is represented by their Chief or Chair through the ONA Chiefs Executive Council (CEC).