The Tla'amin (Sliammon) Nation's...

THE TLA’AMIN (SLIAMMON) NATION’S
treaty ratification vote was postponed from June 16 after a group of about 12 members blocked a polling station with their vehicles, preventing access to voters. After negotiating for 18 years, the Tla’amin, along with the federal and provincial governments, initialled a final agreement last October, which includes self-government provisions, 8,300 hectares of land and $3- million cash over 10 years. Protesters say they believed the voting process to be flawed, and were opponents of the treaty generally. The province’s Aboriginal Relations Minister Mary Polak released a terse statement denouncing the group’s actions, saying “the democratic rights of several hundred First Nations people were trampled upon…” She said “This is not a First Nations issue. This is about democracy. Voting is a fundamental right of every Canadian. As the Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, I am extremely disappointed the community was not allowed to express its wishes regarding this treaty. However, the far greater issue is that the basic right to vote, that all Canadians possess, was denied today.” Tla’amin Chief Clint Williams, describes the situation as a ‘humiliation’, and hopes the community can get the vote back on track.