It's no problem. Thank you very much.
Treaties are a true sharing of constitutional sovereignty. They contain provisions for restitution over a variety of areas, such as fair access to lands and resources, self-governance, law-making authority and jurisdiction. Modern treaties also operationalize the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
I want to take the opportunity to recognize and applaud the federal government for the tremendous work undertaken to strengthen the relationship and shift the negotiations with first nations in the B.C. treaty negotiations process. We are moving beyond historical legacies of Crown denial and unilateralism to a new nation-to-nation relationship based on the recognition of rights, reconciliation, respect, co-operation and partnership.
There have been a number of policy changes and transformations within our process.
One is the recognition and reconciliation of rights policy for treaty negotiations, which we call the RRR policy. It was co-developed in the negotiations process with first nations, British Columbia and Canada. This policy replaces both the comprehensive claims policy and the inherent rights policy. A big part of this policy is that cede, release, surrender or the extinguishment of indigenous rights is not a part of the modern-day treaty negotiations process. It's also not a part of our current and modern-day indigenous-Crown relationships.
Also, there have been some substantive changes when it comes to section 87 of the Indian Act tax exemption in the context of modern treaties. We also have both provincial and federal UN declaration legislation, as well as action plans. There is Canada's collaborative self-government policy. We have loan forgiveness in budget 2019, and the move to contribution funding in 2018.
All these notable policy shifts have transformed the negotiations process and expedited negotiations. We have a tremendous opportunity to conclude treaties in British Columbia. We have four tables representing eight Indian Act bands that can reach a negotiator's handshake within the next six months and initialling within 12 months. They are Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, K'ómoks, and the Te'mexw Treaty Association, which represents five nations.
The RRR policy supports self-determination and self-government, and ensures that modern treaties are adaptable, living agreements capable of renewal when necessary. It also explicitly states that negotiations are grounded in the recognition of indigenous rights and title, and is a framework to implement the UN declaration. These treaties will be the most innovative to date, given the fact that they're going to incorporate all the policy shifts that we've seen.
There are concrete examples of restitution within the B.C. treaty negotiations framework and modern treaties. For instance, the four tables that are closing have negotiated available provincial Crown land to be included in their treaties. As well, there are federal Crown lands to be included. For instance, there are some Department of National Defence and Indian reserve lands.
Another example of restitution is the implementation of self-government. That is a form of restitution that supports the modern treaty nation to restore its law-making role and jurisdiction over its lands and resources, and strengthen its language, culture and communities by being able to prioritize its community needs.
As we know, there has been a lot of damage. Since time immemorial, first nations have been self-governing. Upon contact and colonization, a lot of that was taken away through defunct policies such as the Indian Act. We have an opportunity to change, shift and move towards supporting restitution and reconciliation by completing modern treaties in British Columbia. This will provide for a concrete realization of investments in negotiations and a new path forward for a stronger future for all Canadians.
Concluding these four treaties will undoubtedly establish nation-to-nation relationships and partnerships that are grounded in recognition and reconciliation. It will enable faster and effective closing for the next set of advanced negotiation tables—again, as a pathway towards restitution.
We will continue to urge the entire federal and provincial family to understand its role in reconciliation and its role in concluding modern treaties in British Columbia, as well as in implementing the RRR policy. Momentum needs to continue, especially when treaties and agreements reach Ottawa. Given the fact that the RRR policy applies to all government departments and agencies, we encourage departments to review their authorities. Where they see the opportunity to innovate and update their authorities to reflect a new nation-to-nation relationship, we encourage the federal government to do so.
If not, then there's no progress, which means status quo, which creates uncertainty for Canada and British Columbia, as well as first nations. This also goes against the very definition of restitution.
That concludes the treaty commission's opening remarks.
Hay čxʷ q̓ə. Thank you.