B.C. First Nation to vote on new treaty

Negotiators have signed off on a new treaty agreement between the federal and provincial governments and the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation near Prince George, B.C.

Representatives put their initials on the Lheidli T’enneh Treaty in a ceremony Saturday — the final step before members of the community vote on the deal next month.

The agreement provides the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation with more than 43 square kilometres of land, a capital transfer of $37.1 million and ongoing funding for services such as health care, education and social development. “The agreement would allow us to have our own governance, our own lands. We would own the lands and control the lands,’’ Chief Dominic Frederick said in an interview.

The treaty updates an agreement reached in 2006, which the community voted against ratifying a year later. At the time, some members said they didn’t have enough information or knowledge about the deal and others said the timing wasn’t right.

The previous treaty offered a capital transfer of about $16 million. In a joint news release, the provincial and federal governments and the First Nation say the increase “reflects updated policies that support reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples.’’

The release said the new deal maintains the benefits of the 2006 agreement and adds wording that “allows the agreement to evolve along with certain provincial and federal policies related to reconciliation and treaty negotiations.’’