Green Party supports calls for fair treaty process

OTTAWA – The Green Party supports the efforts of the seventy Chiefs, lawyers and advisors representing over forty First Nations who met in Westbank, British Columbia, to develop strategic plans to implement Aboriginal rights and title.

“Canada must undertake treaty negotiations in good faith based on recognition of rights and title for all First Nations in British Columbia,” said Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

First Nations in B.C. are pressing for honourable negotiations in this process, asking the governments of Canada and B.C. to abandon their “take-it-or-leave-it” attitude at the negotiating tables.

“We must learn from the past,” said Lorraine Rekmans, Aboriginal Affairs Critic for the Green Party and an Ojibway of mixed heritage. “Less than honourable negotiations are what led us into this quagmire of economic disparity and tragedy. We have to resolve these discussions with honour if we ever expect to move forward.”

The Green Party is encouraged by the Chiefs’ work to pressure government to participate in honourable negotiations based on recognition and implementation of rights and title for all First Nations in B.C., said Ms. Rekmans.

“It is in the best interest of First Nations and Canada to resolve land questions in a fair and timely manner. The courts have already provided direction that rights and title must be respected,” she said.