Evidence of meeting #78 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was land.
A video is available from Parliament.
NDP
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain NDP Manicouagan, QC
Chief Hope, in his presentation, your legal counsel indicated that some territories covered by this treaty belong exclusively to the Yale First Nation. Chief Hope, how do you say “exclusive ownership” in your language?
Chief, Chief Negotiator, Yale First Nation
I don't speak my native language at all. Throughout my life I've concentrated on getting a good handle on the English language, so I'm sorry, but I don't know my language.
NDP
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain NDP Manicouagan, QC
Chief Hope, regarding the concept of exclusive ownership, to your mind, what does exclusive ownership of territories covered by this treaty include?
Chief, Chief Negotiator, Yale First Nation
All the Yale treaty settlement land will be private property post the effective date, with the exception of the Frozen Lakes area, which will be open to the public for recreational purposes. The land, being private property, will be similar, I guess, to that of anybody else, of any other taxpayer in British Columbia or Canada. Private property is their own to enjoy, with the exception of the areas that we allow people to come on. It's all subject to reasonable access.
NDP
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain NDP Manicouagan, QC
Chief Hope, does this exclusive ownership imply that traditionally—let us say 1,000 years ago—your band or nation was able to prevent other Indians from accessing these territories or to restrict access to them?
Chief, Chief Negotiator, Yale First Nation
Yes, we've always protected our land. We have continued occupancy for our land.
There are stories that have been passed down from generation to generation on how we protected our land. Some are very vicious stories, where we would have a battle—this is pre-contact—with other first nations right in the Fraser River, in the rapids. There are stories like that. We have war trails that head up west towards Harrison Lake which the warriors would use to go to war. They were not easy trails that would gradually go up the mountain or around the hill the easy way. They would go up and over the mountain. The warriors would hit these trails at a run and go to whatever war was happening in the day. We have always protected our territory.
NDP
NDP
Jonathan Genest-Jourdain NDP Manicouagan, QC
I have one last question for you.
In his presentation, the minister indicated that, if this treaty process was put forward, it was first and foremost with a view to reconciliation with the Yale First Nation and that it would help rebuild the relationship with that nation. That implies that this relationship has deteriorated over the years.
Has your relationship with the Canadian government and the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs always been clear sailing or has there been a certain deterioration over the past 100 or 200 years?
Chief, Chief Negotiator, Yale First Nation
There was one issue that included a portion of land right in the heart of our territory. I'll ask Mr. Reiter to explain this.
Negotiator, Yale First Nation
There is an ancillary issue which has been resolved. It was a specific claim. It was a reserve that encompassed about 300 acres. Again, it was a fishing station. For some reason, due to misadministration, that land was lost in DIAND's administration throughout the twenties, thirties, and fifties. We've settled that issue.
We wanted it to become treaty settlement land, but it was given to another first nation in error. Specific claims policy only allows compensation through monetary means. The lands were not returned; however, the treaty does provide for us to access that reserve and to harvest timber and to gather other plants. That is covered in the treaty. That's the best we could do.
As I said at the beginning, treaties are a matter of compromising. You don't get everything you want; you get what works. That was sufficient for Yale. We've rested the case with Canada to our mutual satisfaction, so that issue is over.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Mr. Genest-Jourdain.
Thank you, Mr. Reiter, for coming.
Chief Hope, you maybe have a final comment.
Chief, Chief Negotiator, Yale First Nation
Yes, I have one last comment.
I would like to say that since I've been chief—and I've been chief for 34 years—we have either formed good relationships with our neighbours or they already existed. For example, the people in the regional district, the Hope RCMP, and most recently, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans.... We co-manage the fishery resource with DFO. We have a very good, strong working relationship with all our neighbours. I just wanted to point that out.
Thank you.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
Thank you, Chief Hope, for being here today.
It may be premature and presumptuous for me to congratulate you just yet on this treaty. I don't want to presuppose what will happen here at committee, but congratulations for coming thus far.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
We will undertake to finalize the review. We'll let you know as it proceeds. Again, congratulations on the work thus far.
Colleagues, we'll suspend for a few moments, and then we'll probably go into clause-by-clause consideration.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
We'll return to order.
We have the officials joining us again from Finance and from Justice.
Colleagues, we will now proceed to clause-by-clause study.
Pursuant to Standing Order 75(1), consideration of the preamble and clause 1, the short title, are postponed until we call them at a later point in time.
It has been suggested, and I am seeking consent on this, to consider all of the clauses, from clause 2 to clause 25, together.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin
I call the question on clauses 2 to 25 inclusive.
(Clauses 2 to 25 inclusive agreed to)
Shall the short title carry?