B.C. Cabinet and First Nations leaders from throughout the
province convened today for a historic day-long dialogue on transforming
Crown-First Nations relations in British Columbia.

The Government of British Columbia and First Nations leaders acknowledged
that the Supreme Court of Canada’s decision in Tsilhqot’in Nation is a
historic opportunity to work together to build a new path for recognition
and reconciliation in the province.

The decision also establishes a new reality and legal landscape for our
transformed relationship, and that implementation of the decision must be
a joint endeavour to achieve success and will require hard work.

The Government of British Columbia also recognizes that Aboriginal title
in British Columbia exists – this is without question and dispute. The
challenge and opportunity is how to implement title across British
Columbia given that a diversity of views exists on how best to achieve
this in the most collaborative and timely way.

Today, B.C. First Nations proposed the following four foundations to
guide a new path forward:

1. We acknowledge that all our relationships are based on recognition and
implementation of the existence of Indigenous peoples’ inherent title and
rights, and pre-confederation, historic and modern treaties, throughout
British Columbia.
2. We acknowledge that Indigenous systems of governance and laws are
essential to the regulation of lands and resources throughout British
Columbia.
3. We acknowledge the mutual responsibility that all of our government
systems shall shift to relationships, negotiations and agreements based
on recognition.
4. This means we immediately must move to consent based decision making
and title based fiscal relations, including revenue sharing, in our
relationships, negotiations and agreements.

The Government of British Columbia is committed to working with B.C.
First Nations through the establishment of an annual gathering and
through ongoing, government-to-government engagement.