BRITISH COLUMBIA FIRST NATIONS CELEBRATE SELF-GEVERNMENT

ANACLA, B.C. Canada — Members of five Vancouver Island First Nations mark a historic milestone today, with the implementation of a modern-day treaty 20 years in the making. The bands, collectively known as the Nuu-Chah-Nulth (new-cha-nulth), represent about 2,100 people near the communities of Bamfield, Port Alberni, Campbell River and Ucluelet.

• Under the Maa-nulth (maw-nulth) treaty, the bands get a land settlement of more than 24,500 hectares, a one-time payment of $120 million and annual payments of $10 million.
• They also gain powers of self-government so they can run their own affairs and have more control over their land and resources.
• The agreement is only the second modern-day treaty in B.C., where unlike other provinces the colonial government for the most part did not sign treaties with First Nations hundreds of years ago as they settled the land.

Residents gathered at a band community hall near Bamfield at midnight last night to celebrate and they will gather tomorrow for further celebrations that will include representatives of the provincial and federal governments, and the B.C. Treaty Commission.

Source: Canadian Press