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Vancouver Island Treaty Includes Almost $500 Million, 24,000 Hectares

Posted on: Saturday, 9 December 2006, 15:00 CST

By DIRK MEISSNER

VICTORIA (CP) - Five Vancouver Island First Nations gathered to initial a treaty Saturday worth almost $500 million that includes more than 24,000 hectares of land, some of it bordering majestic Pacific Rim Park near Tofino.

The Maa-nulth First Nations live on the west coast of Vancouver Island near the communities of Bamfield, Port Alberni, Ucluelet and Kyuquot.

The five Maa-nulth chiefs, B.C. Premier Gordon Campbell and federal Indian Affairs Minister Jim Prentice gathered for a treaty initialling ceremony at Victoria's Fairmont Empress Hotel.

The deal must still be ratified by the 2,000 Maa-nulth people and the federal and B.C. governments.

The Maa-nulth are part of Vancouver Island's 14-member Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, but the five bands decided to negotiate a treaty as a separate group.

The Maa-nulth treaty is the second initialling ceremony in as many days.

The federal and B.C. government's initialled a land, cash and fish deal Friday with the Tsawwassen First Nation near Vancouver.

The two governments also initialled a land, cash and fishing treaty with the Prince George area Lheidli T'enneh Band less than two months ago.

The three initialling ceremonies come after almost 15 years of slow-moving, expensive talks without a single deal.

The financial component of the Maa-nulth treaty includes cash in lump sum and timed payments.

The First Nations will receive $90 million in cash, up to $45 million over 25 years for potential revenue sharing projects, $150 million over eight years for program financing.

Estimates for the value of the treaty lands range between $100 million and $200 million.

Land values in recent years in the area, especially the area near Ucluelet and Pacific Rim Park, have risen considerably.

The treaty suggests much of the $90 million in cash will go towards a commercial fishing program that allows Maa-nulth members to buy commercial fishing licences.

The Maa-nulth will fish under current Department of Fisheries commercial rules, but the deal includes a compensation package if the governments decides to terminate the licences.

The licences for commercial fishing cover numerous fish species, including salmon, halibut and sable fish.

"It'll be a big boost of cash and economic development into that part of the west coast of Vancouver Island," said the source.

Source: Canadian Press

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