First Nations, Clark back reconciliation document but jury out
VANCOUVER — Leaders of British Columbia’s First Nations came looking for a home run but left meetings with Premier Christy Clark and her cabinet wondering if they even made it to first base.
At least a year will have to pass before the leaders will know whether they cleared the fence or hit a sacrifice bunt while trying to resolve historic land rights with the government, said Grand Chief Ed John of the First Nations Summit, one of B.C.’s largest aboriginal groups.
Hundreds of First Nations’ leaders approved on Thursday a 12-page reconciliation document that is being billed as a guide for future economic, social and legal relations between aboriginals and the province.
“The commitment is really there,” John said. “Now we need to dig down and do the actions that are necessary to follow-up. Last year, we kind of fell apart.”
Clark said her government supports the document. She called on First Nations to become the driving force behind the agreement that forges a stronger economic and social partnership between First Nations and other British Columbians.
The document states the goals and objectives of reconciliation include “achieving predictability and stability in the economy, and closing the socioeconomic gap that persists between First Nations and non-First Nations.”
Clark said reconciliation involves improving the lives of families, especially children. She pledged to hold a meeting to discuss aboriginal children’s issues in the coming months and vowed to ensure the federal government will send representatives to next year’s chiefs’ gathering.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, said the government is at Strike 2 when it comes to reconciliation, and if there is no significant movement over the next year, First Nations will return to legal challenges and protest camps.
Aboriginal Relations Minister John Rustad said he could not put a deadline on reaching reconciliation. “It’s not about a destination,” he said. “It really is about a journey.”
First Nations — buoyed by the Supreme Court of Canada land rights victory in central B.C. — want more say and revenue sharing on proposed resource projects on land they consider theirs.