Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When you have the political will, which we do have, that alignment both federally and provincially in the province of B.C., you have to strike when the iron is hot. We have a number of policy changes, but, again, it's not about perfection. It's about building a relationship, a partnership, and moving forward.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  With regard to the treaty negotiations process in B.C., it has expedited negotiations but, again, there have been a number of policy shifts. I would be remiss if I didn't state that not every ministry and agency has been perfect in adopting the whole-of-government approach, the UN declaration and the RRR policy we have in treaty negotiations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's very good to see you as well. I think the economic component is integral. Of course, that comes out of Delgamuukw. Title lands have an inescapable economic component, which means that in part of the decision-making and part of having law-making authority and jurisdiction, we also need to have the ability to create our own economies, but at the same time be able to control those economies.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely. I'm a Sparrow from Musqueam who grew up commercial fishing and spent pretty much my entire life on the waters and the ocean. That's an integral part, looking at not just land back. It's about how we have fair access to our other resources, i.e., marine resources and migratory species such as wildlife, salmon and birds.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. First, I want to acknowledge that this is how you end up in court: having legislation like that passed. I think there are better ways forward. I will pick up, Harold, on what you mentioned with regard to the development that your nation is undertaking. Other nations are also undertaking similar developments.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's no problem. Thank you very much. Treaties are a true sharing of constitutional sovereignty. They contain provisions for restitution over a variety of areas, such as fair access to lands and resources, self-governance, law-making authority and jurisdiction. Modern treaties also operationalize the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good day. Hay čxʷ q̓ə for the invitation. I would just note that the treaty commission is an independent mechanism that oversees the treaty negotiations process in British Columbia. We facilitate the negotiations between first nations, Canada and British Columbia. We are the only tripartite legal body to oversee reconciliation and are mandated to facilitate the modern treaty negotiations process between the parties, provide funding to first nations in negotiations and provide public education.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think you articulated it quite well. The treaty commission continues to support the movement away from extinguishment. It was never seen as the underpinning of this process at all. I agree that relationships need to evolve and there needs to be that space. There's that space within the Constitution, in that there is the evergreen model or the living tree model, and we are continuously supporting the evolution here in British Columbia when it comes to the rights recognition model.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's a great question. I think what that exemplifies is nationhood. When we're talking about and looking at nationhood in our country, that exemplifies it. These are nations that have entered into our process together to collectively negotiate. Some are negotiating at separate stages, but it really does represent a true nation that has entered into our process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would say we all have the same goal when it comes to recognition and reconciliation. There are different pathways that indigenous nations are choosing to move their reconciliation forward based on self-determination and the inherent rights that indigenous peoples have to the lands and resources.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. The First Nations Summit is a principal to treaty negotiations process. They're the political body. Where the rubber hits the road for the BCTC process is when nations submit their statement of intent to the Treaty Commission. That's where the negotiations start happening within that process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. First I would like to acknowledge the Tsawwassen First Nation as well as thank the committee for the invitation for the treaty commission to come and briefly present this morning from a modern treaty perspective. The key point I would like to raise is that the treaty commission is the independent body that oversees negotiations for the reconciliation of indigenous rights through modern treaties.