Lheidli T’enneh First Nation votes no to treaty

Members of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation have rejected a proposed treaty for the second time.

The proposed treaty was defeated 175 to 147 votes.

If approved, the treaty would have provided $37.1 million in a lump sum as well as resource revenue sharing and annual operational funding of $16.7 million to facilitate the treaty.

The approved treaty would have also provided 4,330 hectares of land owned by the First Nation, as well as rights to gather, hunt and fish on 43,000 square kilometres of traditional territory that would have remained Crown land.

Treaty talks first began in 1993 between the Lheidli T’enneh and the provincial and federal governments. The first tentative agreement was defeated in March 2007.

“Of course it is disappointing, but the people have spoken and we must honour their wishes,” Dominic Frederick, Chief of Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, said. “I would like to thank the federal and provincial negotiating teams for their hard work and support. They always negotiated in total good faith and couldn’t have done anything more to get a fair agreement. This decision is entirely Lheidli T’enneh’s choice. We must now try and move forward with the limited resources and opportunities available while we remain under the Indian Act. Regardless of this outcome, we are here to stay.”