Treaty Process
The Treaty Process was designed to proceed by a series of Stages.
Here is how it has progressed so far, and how it is expected to
proceed in the coming months and years.
STAGE 1
March 1997: We filed our Statement of Intent with the BC Treaty
Commission saying that we wanted to enter the negotiation process
along with Canada and BC in a tri-partite negotiation process. To
complete it we had to address four areas:
1) Identify who our Nation and Members are;
2) Describe our traditional territories;
3) Show that we had a mandate to enter into and represent our members
in negotiations; and
4) Appoint a formal contact person
Milestone: At this time we signed a Protocol with Kwakiutl, Namgis,
Gwa-'Sala-'Nakwaxda'xw, Tlatlasikwala and Quatsino to form the
Winalagalis Treaty Group (WTG), with a purpose to work together on
common issues.
STAGE 2
January 1998: All of the required documents were prepared by us in
this Preparation for Negotiations stage to show that indeed we were
ready to negotiate on behalf of the Da'naxda'xw and Awaetlala people
toward reconciliation of our rights and title towards a treaty. To
complete this stage we had to:
1.) Achieve readiness and show our commitment to negotiate a treaty;
2.) Prove that we had the authority of our people and the resources
to commence negotiations;
3.) show that we had a means to develop mandates through appointment
of a Chief Negotiator; and
4.)develop a broad outline of what each of us wanted to negotiate.
Milestones: Procedures Agreement; Openness Protocol; Contribution and
Loans Agreements with the British Columbia Treaty Commission
STAGE 3
October 28, 2000: The Framework Agreement defines the issues that we
have decided to negotiate, establishes our objectives for
negotiating; identifies the procedures that will be followed as well
as set out the timetable for negotiations.
Milestones: Framework Agreement; Letter of Agreement between the
Chief Negotiators; Agreement to negotiate an individual
Da'naxda'xw/Awaetlala Nation's Treaty
STAGE 4
Started December 2000: This is the Agreement in Principle stage where
negotiations began on all the topics listed on the Framework
Agreement, including forests, fish, land, self-government, financial
components- all the parts that will form a treaty. We also work
towards agreements called Interim Measures and Treaty Related
Measures to provide for economic, social or protection measures while
negotiations are carried out. This is the most intensive and lengthy
stage of the six-stage negotiation process.
Milestones: Treaty Related Measure on Tourism; Forestry Interest
Paper, Fish Interest Paper and; Culture, Language and Heritage
Interest Paper
STAGE 5
Negotiation to Finalize a Treaty. At this stage outstanding legal and
technical issues are resolved. Formal signing and ratification of the
agreement brings the parties to Stage Six.
STAGE 6
Treaty Implementation. The plans to implement the treaty are put into
effect or phased in as agreed.
For more information call
William Wasden Sr.
Tel: (250) 974-2179
Toll free: 1-877-207-9797
Email: billwasden@danaxdaxw.com
