The Kitselas Treaty and self-government Constitution are pending a vote to decide whether to ratify them or not.
On June 24, 2024, the Kitselas Treaty was initialled by Chief Glenn Bennett of the Kitselas First Nation, Gary Anandasangaree, federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and Murray Rankin, British Columbia minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
It was a milestone in the treaty negotiations process as the Kitselas has been working toward a modern treaty since 1993. The six stage process can be lengthy.
The first three stages were a statement of intent, preparation for negotiations and the negotiation of a framework agreement. Stage four, negotiation of an agreement in principle (AIP) was completed in 2015. They are currently at the end of stage 5 where the vote is now taking place.
For the treaty to be ratified, at least 50 per cent plus one of the eligible voters on the final treaty voters list must cast their vote and at least 50 per cent of those voters must cast their vote in favour of the agreement. Ratifying the constitution will follow.
If the treaty and constitution is ratified, B.C.'s government and the federal government will undergo their own respective ratification approval processes, which includes passing provincial, and then federal treaty implementation legislation to bring it into law. If ratified by all three parties, the effective date for the treaty is anticipated for 2028.
A treaty offers the Kitselas a path toward self-governance and getting themselves out from under the Indian Act, which was passed in 1876 without consultation with the Indigenous peoples that lived on the land known today as Canada. The Kitselas were self-governing long before Europeans arrived to Canada.
If the treaty becomes ratified, it means greater opportunities for Kitselas to grow regional economic development and partnerships. It gives them the authority to raise property, sales, business and income tax revenue from businesses and non-members who reside within the Treaty Settlement Lands. This will be possible through a tax treatment agreement with the federal government and government of B.C.
After ratification, Kitselas people would become registered owners of the Treaty Settlement Lands, which are also known as Kitselas Lands. Totalling more than 95,000 acres, the territory is much larger than the current Kitselas Reserves.
Lakelse Lake Provincial Park will not be a part of these Lands, but part of Kleanza Creek Park will be included.
Non-Kitselas members will still be able to access the Treaty Settlements Lands for temporary recreational and non-commercial purposes. They will also be able to continue ownership of private lands surrounding the settlement lands, but if an owner chooses to sell a property, the Kitselas Nation will have the first opportunity to purchase the property.
The treaty will also establish the Kitselas Area, which was known as traditional territory. Although Kitselas will not own this area, their people will have rights to hunt, harvest, and participate in planning processes such as environmental assessment and wildlife management.
