The Lheidli T’enneh people have been in the treaty process for more than 20 years. Negotiations began formally with the submission of the Lheidli T'enneh Statement of intent on December 16, 1993, to the British Columbia Treaty Commision.
British Columbia Treaty Commission
During the late 1980’s meetings were held between Canada, British Columbia and various First Nation organizations and Bands to start the process. Up until this time the province of British Columbia had not recognized First Nations rights and title to the land. After about four years of negotiations the British Columbia Treaty Commission was established and opened the doors to treaty negotiations in December of 1993.
The British Columbia Treaty Commission process is a six-stage process:
Stages:
1. Statement of Intent 2. Table Readiness 3. Framework Agreement 4. Agreement-In-Principle 5. Final Agreement 6. Implementation of Treaty
1. Statement of Intent
2. Table Readiness
3. Framework Agreement
4. Agreement-In-Principle
5. Final Agreement
6. Implementation of Treaty
The Lheidli T’enneh was one of the first to file with the British Columbia Treaty Commission. The Lheidli T’enneh statement of intent area is just less than 4.6 million hectares of territory.
The dates for the stages for Lheidli T’enneh are:
Statement of Intent: December16, 1993
Table readiness: February 11, 1995
Information Sharing Principles: February 5, 1995
Procedures Agreement: February 5, 1995
Openness Protocol: February 15, 1995
Framework Agreement:
Initialled: April 11, 1996
Signed: August 26, 1996
Agreement-in-Principle:
Letter of Recommendation: May 2, 2003
Signed: July 26, 2003
Final Agreement:
Community Treaty Council Recommendation: August 8, 2006
Initialled: forthcoming
Ratification: date to be determined
Signed: forthcoming
A link to the Agreement-In Principle PDF document is provided below for more information
http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/down/lheidliaip_july26_final_with_sig.pdf
A link to the Final Agreement as of October 29, 2006 is included in Word format here
Traditional Territory Boundary Lheidli Tenneh Band
This map represents approximate boundary of the traditional territory described in the First Nation Statement of Intent. The boundary is for illustrative purposes only, and may be updated in the future.
The Lheidli T'enneh Band has concluded an agreement in principle (AIP) with the federal and provincial governments, and is currently in Stage 5 of the six-stage process, negotiating a final agreement. Negotiations are moving forward and the parties are in the process of negotiating chapters that will form the final agreement. Agreement in Principle On July 26, 2003, the AIP was signed by the Premier, the federal Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the Lheidli T'enneh First Nation Chief, at a ceremony in Prince George. The land component of the AIP is 4,027 hectares and is largely provided by B.C. The capital transfer, largely provided by the Government of Canada, is $12.8 million - less any outstanding negotiation loans and any amounts that may be used to purchase up to 150 hectares of additional land on a willing-seller, willing-buyer basis. The AIP outlines the other major components of a treaty, including rights to resources such as wildlife and fish, timber and sub-surface minerals, culture and related self-government provisions. A link to the PDF document is provided below for more information http://www.gov.bc.ca/arr/down/lheidliaip_july26_final_with_sig.pdf
Tax Treatment Agreement
Lheidli T’enneh First Nation has reached a milestone in the treaty process, which began in 1993 in the six-stage process. We, the nation, worked through the process completing stage two in 1995. Stage three, Framework agreement, initialed and signed in 1996. The Lheidli T'enneh First Nation completed Stage four, Agreement in Principal, on 2003. We have completed stage 5 in the process and we are now at sixth and final stage, the signing and the enrollment of participants. The following information details the enrollment process.
Enrolment as a Lheidli T’enneh Participant
An individual is entitled to become a Lheidli T’enneh (LTN) participant if that individual satisfies the eligibility criteria of the Enrolment and Eligibility Chapter of the Lheidli T’enneh Final Agreement.
You must be:
The above is an assurance that Lheidli T’enneh, not the Indian Act, will define who is a Lheidli T’enneh person.
The Enrolment and Eligibility Department, a branch of the Lheidli T’enneh Treaty Office, was opened in January of 2006. It is responsible for the enrolment of all eligible participants in the Final Agreement.
An Enrolment Committee was struck and three Members from the Lheidli T’enneh Band were appointed to the Committee. The committee will review all applications for Enrolment and decides whether applicants should be accepted or rejected.
Current Committee members:
If and when the Committee rejects an application, the application will be forwarded to the appeals Board. This Board, comprised of two members appointed by Lheidli T’enneh and one member appointed by Canada will be the responsible for hearing and determining any appeals brought under paragraphs 21 and 22 and decide whether the Individual will be enrolled or not. Subject to a Judicial Review all decisions of the Board will be final and binding.
Appointed Appeals board members include:
February 23,2007
Constitution of Lheidli T'enneh
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