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Background/"Why"

Moving Forward Together

All Nations whether a part of the treaty process or not, whether in Court, or whether negotiating with the Crown, share the same common objective; to have a fair land and resource settlement.   Whether through agreements or what we ask for in Court or simply take on the ground, what is essential for our long-term success as Peoples is access to adequate lands and resources to maintain our cultural identities and ensure economic opportunity.  Economic opportunities on-reserve, with the exception of well-located communities, is limited, so opportunity will have to come from within our broader traditional territories. 

Land and resource settlements must be sustainable and durable.  Every Nation should have access to adequate land and resources that provide access for traditional practices, such as hunting, fishing and gathering, but also adequate resources to fuel an economy through revenue sharing, economic opportunities and accommodation arrangements.  Many of our communities are now beginning to see the rewards after years of litigation or years of negotiations, where new and exciting accommodation and benefits agreements are being executed with third parties and government.  We can build on this success and ensure all of our Nations have the capacity to take advantage of the opportunities.

The BCAFN will ensure our issues regarding the land question remain central to the national debate in Ottawa and at the same time relevant to our communities as we each exercise our title and rights within our respective Traditional Territories.  In moving the land question forward I will work with our Nations’ leadership to ensure that our multi-pronged approach to settling the land question is coordinated and advanced.  All our Nations regardless of which approach they are taking to implementing their land and resource rights have stories to tell and experiences to share. Understanding these experiences and building on our success we can move forward cooperatively and in unity to overcome obstacles put in our way by the Crown. 

While there is clearly a need for regional and provincial organization to ensure coordination, the BCAFN will never lose sight of the fact that each of our Nations are independent with their own right to self-determination as the proper title holders of their lands. This is why it is important that ‘Nation Building’ happen with each Nation responsible for developing its own institutions of governance so that when we meet collectively, regardless of the political forum in which we meet (BCAFN, FNS, UBCIC or other), with each Nation being able to articulate its position and constructively participate in the provincial debate respecting aboriginal title and rights.  BCAFN will continue to work with our leaders and whomever the leaders of our Nations determine are their regional political representatives in order to advance our Nations’ interests.  BCAFN will work to ensure there is limited duplication of administration and the most effective use of our political and financial resources in advancing our rights and title based on a platform of empowering, connecting and supporting our individual Nations.