A Message From Chief Dominic Frederick to the Lheidli T enneh Community

Transcription

1 your Voice. your Choice. April 2018 Newsletter A Message From Chief Dominic Frederick to the Lheidli T enneh Community This is a very important month for our community as we prepare our Nation for the Ratification Vote in June May 1st, 2018 will mark only 47 days until voting begins on June 16th, Our community has been waiting a long time for the second Ratification Vote and I want to thank you all for your patience during this process. Although Lheidli T enneh has had to wait a long time for this vote, the government has tweaked the Final Agreement so that it is not the same as what we voted on in The Final Agreement itself has not undergone large-scale changes, but the small tweaks that were made are very important and significant. We have already introduced the concept of bridging language which means that Lheidli T enneh can still access future improvements that are made to reconciliation or treaty negotiations at the provincial or federal level. For our community, this means that we will gain all of the advantages that are already in the Final Agreement but we can also add benefits that are offered to other Nations at the treaty negotiating table in the future. We have been sharing with the community for quite some time now that the Capital Transfer will likely increase before the Ratification Vote, but at that time we didn t know the exact amount. Last week, the federal and provincial governments brought forth an offer of an additional $20.8 million dollars to be added on to the existing Capital Transfer of $16.3 million dollars. This brings the Capital Transfer to over $37 million dollars, which means that the estimated total value of the Final Agreement is about $116.2 million dollars. For me, this is a very promising sign that the governments are taking reconciliation with Lheidli T enneh seriously and are setting us up for our own successful self-government. I want to emphasize the importance of enroling to vote so that your voice is heard. Even if you enroled to vote in 2007, you still need to enrol to vote in June No matter what your view is on the Final Agreement, if you want to take part in deciding the future of Lheidli T enneh First Nation I encourage you to enrol to vote. Enroling is an easy, three-step process and more information is provided in this newsletter. Lastly, I want to invite the Lheidli T enneh community to make their best efforts to attend our engagement events in the months of May and June This will be our last round of meetings before the Ratification Vote, and we will be hosting two day meetings in each location to ensure that our community has the important information and updates they need in order to make an informed vote. I also want to invite our whole community to join us for a Your Voice, Your Choice, Our Future Gathering that will bring everyone home to our traditional territory on the weekend of June 16th and 17th. I am excited to host a celebration and gathering before our Nation makes the most important decision in our lifetimes. If you have any questions around the Final Agreement, please contact the treaty department at I will be traveling to all meetings in the month of May joined by members of council, and look forward to meeting you all in the very near future. Mussi Cho! Respectfully, DOMINIC FREDERICK, LHEIDLI T ENNEH

2 your Voice. your Choice. UPDATING & MODERNIZING THE FINAL AGREEMENT Most of the Final Agreement contains legal language that describes basic rights and responsibilities that haven t changed over time. It is also important to recognize that re-opening negotiations would have increased costs and Lheidli T enneh would have lost some important benefits, such as implementation and capacity funding, that are no longer offered at federal or provincial negotiating tables. In other words, we would have lost ground overall. However, Federal and provincial approaches to reconciliation with First Nations have moved forward in recent years so it is important that these be reflected in the Lheidli T enneh treaty relationship. As a result, several important steps have been taken to modernize the 2006 agreement. These updates include: CAPITAL TRANSFER The lump sum Capital Transfer has been increased by another $20.8 million dollars. The total is now $37.1 million. (The total Capital Transfer in 2006 was $13.2 million.) This increases the estimated total land and cash value of the treaty to $116,200,000, nearly $50 million more than in The full Capital Transfer would be paid to Lheidli T enneh on the date the treaty takes effect. This would allow the funds to be deposited into Trust and begin earning more income immediately. The Capital Transfer and Negotiation Loan Repayment chapter has been amended to reflect this. Originally, the Capital Transfer would have been paid in instalments over ten years. FINANCIAL VALUES All the values in the financial package have been updated to 2017 dollar values to account for inflation and population increase. These will continue to increase until the Effective Date.

3 your Voice. your Choice. BRIDGING LANGUAGE Bridging language has been included in the Final Agreement that will enable Lheidli T enneh to benefit from any future improvements to federal and provincial policies and mandates negotiated in other treaties. Bridging applies in the following five areas: Loan repayment It is likely that the $6.3 million dollar negotiating loan built up between 1993 and 2006 will not have to be repaid. Fiscal relations This refers to the new financial relationship provided in the treaty and may further limit the effect of Own Source Revenue deductions from Lheidli T enneh government business operations. Certainty This refers to the way in which Aboriginal rights are expressed as modified and continued treaty rights and may affect the full and final settlement provision of the treaty. Periodic Review Originally Canada, BC and Lheidli T enneh committed to reviewing the treaty every fifteen years to evaluate progress and make any necessary changes or improvements. It may be more effective to review treaty implementation more often. Taxation This may affect the phase out of the Indian Act on-reserve tax exemptions by enabling the First Nation to control the timing. Note: It is important to understand that none of these will necessarily happen, but if they do, Lheidli T enneh can choose to have them apply. LEGAL DRAFTING A Legal Working Group has reviewed the drafting to correct typographical errors, apply consistent drafting conventions, and update references to things such as laws that have changed over time. This basically completes proofreading work that was already underway when the treaty was defeated in 2007.

4 your Voice. your Choice. our Future your Voice. your Choice. our Future U P DAT I N G & M O D E R N I Z I N G T H E F I N A L AG R E E M E N T C O N T I N U E D... GATHERING RIGHTS New drafting has been included in the Role Off chapter ( Lheidli T enneh Rights and Roles Outside Lheidli T enneh Lands ) to confirm Lheidli T enneh law-making authority over gathering rights. APPENDICES The Appendices which contain technical details such as legal land descriptions, existing permits and licenses, and maps have been updated. These changes have been set out in a Letter of Understanding that was signed by the negotiators on April 26, They will be included in an updated version of the Final Agreement that will be initialled on May 5 before the Ratification Vote in June. We will be explaining the updates at upcoming community meetings and we thank the community for their patience as we worked through these issues with Canada and BC. Negotiators shake hands after signing the Negotiator s Letter of Understanding at the Lheidli T enneh Band Office on April 26, L to R: Frank Soda (Senior Director, North Region, Treaties & Aboriginal Government, Negotiations West, CIRNAC); Chief Dominic Frederick (Chief of Lheidli T enneh First Nation); Robert Leece (Senior Negotiator, MIRR)

5 your Voice. your Choice. Enroling to vote in 3 easy steps! If you want your voice to be heard in the upcoming Ratification Vote in June 2018, you must enrol to vote. You will need to go through the enrolment process even if you previously enroled in the first Ratification Vote in Step 1: Fill out your enrolment form The enrolment form packages were mailed out in June If you have not enroled, please expect a new form in the mail in the next week. Although there have been members enroling their children already, it is not necessary to do so before the vote unless they are over the age of 16 and eligible to vote. If you have any issues filling out your form, you can contact Tasheena at or tseymour@lheidli.ca and she will be more than happy to assist you. Step 2: The Approval Process After you have submitted your form, it goes to the Eligibility & Enrolment Committee ( E&E Committee ) for review. The E&E Committee is comprised of three Lheidli T enneh Elders who will review your application to ensure your information is correct and whether you meet the criteria. It is during this review that your form will be accepted or rejected. Step 3: Receiving your Approval Letter Once the E&E committee has reviewed your form, you will be sent a letter of acceptance or rejection explaining how the decision was reached and the procedure to follow afterwards. If you receive an acceptance letter, this means you have been successfully added to the Voting Register and will be receiving a voting package in the mail as the vote date gets closer. If you receive a rejection letter, there is also a process for you to follow with our appeals board if you wish to continue to be a part of the Ratification Vote.

6 WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US ELDERS DINNER THURSDAY MAY 3RD, 5PM ABORIGINAL HOUSING SOCIETY OF PRINCE GEORGE ( TH AVE) FINAL AGREEMENT RE-INITIALING CEREMONY SATURDAY MAY 5TH, 9:30AM TO NOON PRINCE GEORGE CIVIC CENTRE (808 CANADA GAMES WAY) PRINCE GEORGE COMMUNITY MEETINGS SATURDAY MAY 5TH, 1:30PM TO 4PM & SUNDAY MAY 6TH, 11AM TO 4PM PRINCE GEORGE CIVIC CENTRE (808 CANADA GAMES WAY) PRINCE RUPERT COMMUNITY MEETINGS SATURDAY MAY 12TH, 11AM TO THE HIGHLINER PLAZA HOTEL (815 1ST AVE W) SUNDAY MAY 13TH, 11AM TO THE CREST HOTEL (222 1ST AVE W) VANCOUVER COMMUNITY MEETINGS* SATURDAY MAY 19TH, 11AM TO 4PM & SUNDAY MAY 20TH, 11AM TO 4PM SANDMAN HOTEL VANCOUVER CITY CENTRE (180 W GEORGIA) *ELIGIBLE VOTERS ON VANCOUVER ISLAND WILL BE INVITED TO ATTEND KAMLOOPS COMMUNITY MEETINGS SATURDAY MAY 26TH, 11AM TO 4PM & SUNDAY MAY 27TH, 11AM TO 4PM LOCATION TBA EDMONTON COMMUNITY MEETINGS SATURDAY JUNE 2ND, 11AM TO 4PM & SUNDAY JUNE 3RD, 11AM TO 4PM LOCATION TBA YOUR VOICE, YOUR CHOICE, OUR FUTURE COMMUNITY GATHERING SATURDAY JUNE 16 & SUNDAY JUNE 17 HELD AT THE NEW LHEIDLI T ENNEH COMMUNITY HALL: Uda dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) DETAILS TBA CHIEF DOMINIC FREDERICK LHEIDLI T ENNEH COUNCILLOR DOLLEEN LOGAN LHEIDLI T ENNEH COUNCILLOR CLAYTON POUNTNEY LHEIDLI T ENNEH TASHEENA SEYMOUR TREATY ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR ZANDRA ROSS ZANDRA ROSS LIFESTYLE, LEADERSHIP & FITNESS COACHING Chief Dominic Frederick will be in attendance as our honoured guest and will be joined by members of Council, dependent on their schedules. Zandra Ross will facilitate the meetings and lead each group in discussion and Tasheena Seymour will be on hand to help you fill out your enrolment form if you haven t already. We will be contacting you in the coming weeks via phone and - please call the treaty office if you have any questions at

7 Your Voice, Your Choice, Our Future Gathering THE TREATY TEAM IS EXCITED TO HOST A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION BEFORE LHEIDLI T ENNEH VOTES ON THE FINAL AGREEMENT, BRINGING THE WHOLE COMMUNITY HOME TO OUR TRADITIONAL TERRITORY. June 16 & 17, 2018 TRAVEL DAYS JUNE 15 & 18, 2018 HELD AT THE NEW LHEIDLI T ENNEH COMMUNITY HALL: Uda dune Baiyoh (House of Ancestors) INVITATION & AGENDA TO FOLLOW A member of the treaty team will be in touch with you for travel details. Please contact us with any questions at or sseymour@lheidli.ca

8 Contact Us! LHEIDLI T ENNEH TREATY OFFICE 1041 WHENUN RD PRINCE GEORGE, BC V2K 5X Tamara Seymour Community Engagement Manager taseymour@lheidli.ca Camila Sanchez Treaty Communications & Research Analyst csanchez@lheidli.ca Tasheena Seymour Treaty Administrative Coordinator tseymour@lheidli.ca Samantha Seymour Community Engagement Intern sseymour@lheidli.ca Voting for the Lheidli T enneh Final Agreement will take place from June 16th to June 23rd, Mail-in ballots will be sent to all voters by mid-may, and online voting will also be offered. More information about how, when, and where to vote will be sent to you in the mail by the Lheidli T enneh Ratification Committee. your Voice Lheidli T enneh Final Agreement Decision We are the Lheidli T enneh We have many voices But we are one proud people We will move forward together To make a better future Whatever the outcome, this vote will be historic. As we walk this path, as we talk about and consider our future together, our people will become stronger. We will hold the conversations about our choices in an open and respectful way, where all thoughts and opinions will be valued; where we respect and learn from each other; where we decide our future together.