Pathways Forward Agreement
Friday, October 1, 2021 in Uncategorized
“All we really want for our communities is to prosper, and when our communities prosper, our neighbours, British Columbia and Canadians prosper,” said Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Tribal Chief Mina Holmes. “This agreement helps rebalance our communities and members to address the social and economic gaps that separate us from our neighbours.” Building on the July 2018 Memorandum of Understanding on Rights and Reconciliation, the Pathways Agreement identifies a number of priorities that would serve as a basis for negotiating a possible nation-to-nation incremental reconciliation agreement. Among the priority themes: recognition and reconciliation; Nation-building; liability; culture and well-being; economic development; Infrastructure and implementation. This agreement will promote reconciliation between the province and the seven Carrier Sekani First Nations by fostering regional economic development, developing partnerships with industry, and creating new business opportunities and jobs that will benefit everyone in the region. – $25 million will be dedicated to building “capacity” to implement the agreement and to continue negotiations for a long-term and comprehensive reconciliation agreement between First Nations and provincial and federal governments; “Congratulations to the Carrier Sekani First Nations and the provincial government on the successful negotiation of this historic agreement. I hope this agreement will build strong and healthy relationships and partnerships that will lead to better communities for all. “This agreement provides unprecedented forest security with the largest collective of First Nations peoples, with whom the government has signed a reconciliation agreement and whose territories are at the heart of the inland forest industry. The predictability of the forest sector in this region benefits not only Sekani Nations Transporters, but also other loggers in the region. Seven Carrier Sekani First Nations have signed an agreement that supporters say will put them on the path to self-management and provide a revenue-sharing structure worth $175 million over the five-year term of the agreement. The agreement is the result of work between the seven nations and the provincial government since 2014 and commits to integrating the federal government into further negotiations. Priorities for further negotiation of a long-term agreement are land, forest ownership opportunities, and the implementation of rights and titles. To download the full text of the agreement, click on this link. “As we walk through reconciliation, we find places that will make a meaningful difference.
To see seven First Nations sign an agreement of this magnitude is incredible. This will be a big step forward for First Nations. In Vanderhoof, we look forward to the future of the Carrier Sekani First Nations and the entire region. “This agreement demonstrates our mutual commitment to move forward together as government partners. While the Pathways Agreement is only a step towards self-management and true and lasting reconciliation, it is an important step in our renewed relationship with Canada. Our nation looks forward to the successful implementation of this agreement in the coming months. “The Pathways Forward Agreement is a step in the right direction in the implementation of UNDRIP. This is a step forward from the darkness of the ugly history of the relations we have had with governments. . .
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