Another treaty for B.C. as Sliammon votes ‘Yes’

Despite loud opposition from some community members, a Sunshine Coast First Nation has signed on to a treaty agreement with the federal and provincial governments.
The treaty, approved July 10, gives the Sliammon First Nation 8,322 hectares of land and $30 million over 10 years, as well as self-government, economic development funding and resource revenue. There are about 1,000 members.

Of the 615 eligible voters, 318 voted in favor of ratification; 235 voted against; 61 voters did not cast a ballot. There was one spoiled ballot. A successful vote required 50 per cent plus one of eligible voters on the Official Voters List to vote in favor of ratification.

“I knew the vote would be close, “Sliammon First Nations Chief Clint Williams told Raven’s Eye.

“With the Indian Act there are very limited opportunities for us,” he said, adding that he was pleased with the outcome.

But William’s optimism is not shared throughout the coastal community.

A first attempt at community ratification was stopped June 16 after an ad-hoc community group calling themselves ‘Protect Sliammon Sovereignty’ derailed one of the five polling stations set up for members to cast their ballots.

Williams said polling stations had been set up on the Sunshine Coast, in Vancouver, Victoria, Surrey and Tacoma, Washington, to accommodate both on and off-reserve band members living in the regions.
But last month the Sliammon polling station was barricaded by the opposing group, causing the referendum to be temporarily put on hold.

“It was disappointing that the [initial] vote didn’t happen,” said Williams.

“But I can also understand. People are pretty passionate about their rights,” he added.

On July 11, a B.C. Supreme Court judge upheld a June 22 injunction stopping the Protectors of Sliammon Sovereignty from preventing the vote. Attempts to contact its members were unsuccessful.

Local media reports suggest that group spokesperson, Brandon Peters, is planning to dispute the final ratification vote based on voter-enrolment issues, saying the group barricaded the doors of Sliammon polling station in June because they claim the ratification vote was tainted by ineligible voters and bribery.

Williams disagrees.

“I didn’t see it,” the chief said of the allegations. “I think the rules and regulations of the vote were followed appropriately.”

“If there was anything wrong with the voting process I absolutely think it should be challenged,” agreed Williams. “But I saw nothing wrong with the process.”

Williams blamed the allegations of a flawed voting process and political corruption for the community unrest regarding treaty. He said the accusations have caused a “festering” and “snowball effect” throughout the community.

“[The allegations] really created an uphill battle. It was nasty. There were family members disowning each other and there were grandparents not wanting to speak to their grandchildren. There was some real animosity around this,” he explained.

“I’m anticipating an appeal to the vote,” added Williams.
But even if appealed, Williams said he believes the treaty is here to stay.

Williams maintains treaty is the best thing for his people.
“It’s a mixed bag of emotions, [but] we needed the vote to happen to see what the community wanted as a whole,” said Williams. “We wanted to be able to create more opportunity for our community.”

Williams said he has been in close communication with the self-governing Tsawwassen First Nation, acquiring information on how to proceed.

“It’s a very galvanizing process,” agreed Tsawwassen Chief Kim Baird.

“People have to decide if they want to take the risk.”
In July 2007, the Tsawwassen band relinquished Indian Act legislation and became the first urban treaty in the history of British Columbia and the first modern treaty negotiated under the British Columbia Treaty Commission process. Tsawwassen members voted 70 per cent in favor of ratifying the Final Agreement. The treaty provided a capital transfer and other one-time cash payments of $33.6 million and self-government funding of $2.9 million annually over the first five years of the treaty. The land component includes approximately 724 hectares, of which 434 hectares are provincial Crown land and 290 hectares are former Indian reserve. The Coast Salish band has approximately 400 members.
Baird said that while there were aspects of the Tsawwassen treaty deal that she called “offensive,” she believes the advantages of the agreement outweighed the alternative.

“The Indian Act system is so structurally flawed,” said Baird.

“The main reason we entered into treaty negotiations was to try to come up with tools to understand our poor socio-economic conditions,” she explained.

But while Baird advocates for treaty, she said the process is not an easy one, adding that the Sliammon have a lot of work ahead of them.

“Nothing can prepare you for self-governance until you take the plunge and do it,” said Baird. “It’s a lot of work. You can’t do it without [community involvement]. It’s integral…everyone has to work,” she said.

From the vote in 2007 to 2009 when the Tsawwassen treaty officially came into effect, Tsawwassen established 23 governance laws to replace the Indian Act. The laws pertain to the development of the political structure, policy and economic development strategy, said Baird.
“There wasn’t a light switch that got turned on on July 10. We need to build this government. We need to build the processes,” Williams said.

He estimates the process of finalizing treaty and getting protocols and procedure policies in place will take his band two years to complete.

Heads of government were quick to applaud Sliammon First Nation on their outcome.

“Congratulations to Chief Clint Williams and the Sliammon First Nation community on achieving an important milestone in treaty negotiations. By voting yes to the Final Agreement, the Sliammon First Nation is one step closer to a modern treaty,” said John Duncan, minster of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development in a statement.

“This treaty will clarify land and resource ownership to create a stable and positive climate for economic investment and development on both Aboriginal lands and in the surrounding communities,” he added.

“This is a significant achievement for the Sliammon community and a positive development for the British Columbia treaty process in general,” Duncan continued.
“The vote clearly shows that the best way to resolve historical rights and title issues is through co-operative negotiations. Once in effect, the Final Agreement will lay the groundwork for a bright future for the region, opening doors to new opportunities,” he said.

Calling the referendum outcome “a historic moment for the people of Tla’amin and for all British Columbians,” Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Mary Polak also applauded the Sliammon First Nation.

“I would like to congratulate Tla’amin [Sliammon] Nation members and their leadership on achieving a ‘yes’ vote in favor of the Tla’amin Final Agreement. This is a clear sign that the treaty process is alive and well, and a ‘yes’ outcome to the vote helps build momentum in negotiations across B.C,” Polak said in a statement.

“Even though there were forces trying to determine the future of the Tla’amin people, the Tla’amin triumphed,” she added.

“Community support is important as we move toward treaty. This vote is a milestone in the journey to a treaty that will bring many benefits to the community and see Tla’amin become a full, self-governing treaty nation,” Polak concluded.

Williams agrees.

“I can see the benefits of getting out from under the Indian Act… Not everything is perfect,” admits Williams. “[But] it’s up to us to build this government with the tools treaty provides us,” he said.

The Tla’amin Final Agreement will now go to the provincial legislature for ratification and then to the Parliament of Canada to be ratified.