Cheam watching

negotiations closely

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Although the Cheam band is no longer part of the treaty process in British Columbia, the band members will be watching ongoing negotiations closely.

The Cheam band had been involved in treaty negotiations as a member of the Sto:Lo Nation, but was dropped in May.

According to Sto:Lo Nation chief negotiator Clarence Pennier, the decision to remove the Cheam band from negotiations was done to respect the wishes of the band, while allowing other members of the Sto:Lo Nation to continue in the treaty process.

"Well, it wasn't a decision to drop them. It was more a decision to respect what they've been saying, because they've been telling the governments that they're not in the process, so all the chiefs here did was respected that," Pennier said.

The Sto:Lo Nation, located in the southwest corner of the mainland, is made up of 18 bands including Cheam. The nation is currently in stage four of treaty negotiations, during which parties work towards an agreement-in-principle.

Negotiations with Sto:Lo Nation came to a halt this spring when Cheam set up a roadblock on the Rosedale Ferry Road, cutting off access to Ferry Island Provincial Park. The blockade was organized to protest the province's handling of negotiations regarding land along the Fraser River within the band's traditional territory. The land in question includes Ferry Island and three other islands in the Fraser River.

Among the band's concerns are plans to protect part of the land claimed by Cheam under the province's Protected Areas Strategy, which would interfere with Cheam's use of the land.

The province has indicated it won't resume negotiations with the band while the roadblock remains in place. However, now that the Cheam band has been dropped from the Sto:Lo Nation claim, negotiations with the remaining members of the Sto:Lo treaty table have resumed.

Peter Smith, spokesperson for the provincial Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, said negotiations with Cheam will not resume until the blockades come down, although lines of communication remain open.

"There's been communication . . . but there's been no negotiations, of course, because the blockade is still up and we can't negotiate with them on the issues while the blockade remains in place," Smith said. "But there's certainly been communication. We've been trying to set up meetings with the band, but so far haven't had any success in doing so."

Cheam Chief June Quipp said even though the band is no longer in the treaty process, members will be watching developments with interest.

"Well, the only thing is we still have a relationship with Sto:Lo," Chief Quipp said. "We'll certainly be keeping a close eye on what happens with the negotiations at Sto:Lo, because it certainly will have a major impact on Cheam First Nation, and they're well aware that we'll be watching what will be taking place during the treaty talks. I'm just not sure, that even speaking to a couple of the other chiefs that are still within the process at Sto:Lo, they have a lot of discontent as well, with how things are going to happen. Like I said, we'll certainly be keeping an eye on what goes on there at the table."

As far as renewed negotiations with the province over the land in question, Chief Quipp said there hasn't been any movement.

"The government's been sitting very quiet, but as far as we're concerned that's fine with us. We have an island back, and I guess we'll just have to continue to move to another one fairly soon. But as far as any talks with them, they don't seem to be prepared to do much," Quipp said.