3.1 million people are being kept in the dark about what this actually means for them
British Columbians, particularly those in Vancouver, have learned that another agreement was signed behind their backs, this time by the federal government and First Nations authorities. On Feb. 20, Ottawa inked three “historic” agreements with the Musqueam Indian Band, whose traditional land covers the City of Vancouver and its inner suburbs like Burnaby and North Vancouver.
The official press release from the government mostly focused on expanding joint fisheries, stewardship, and marine emergency management. However, the most important aspect was buried in the body of the text.
Briefly noted was the announcement of a Rights Recognition Agreement. It “recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights including title within their traditional territory and establishes a framework for incremental implementation of rights and nation-to-nation relations with Canada.”
It is just one sentence, but it could have enormous implications. Residents of Metro Vancouver, 3.1 million people, were once again blindfolded and being made to guess and figure it out for themselves.
We were left with what can only be called an intolerable veil of secrecy.
Even when Ottawa released the full document on Monday, the consequences remained unclear. In effect, it is a 30-page Rights Recognition Agreement, plus separate marine management and fisheries agreements, as outlined by the earlier press release. The package isn’t much more specific than what was initially announced, providing general recognition of Musqueam rights and title “within” their territory and sets a framework for later talks on “how and where” those rights apply. The agreement insists it does not affect privately owned land. The rights agreement includes no map.
Read the Agreement: A Rights Recognition Agreement
Read the full article at National Post: Musqueam sign Aboriginal rights deals with federal government
Or read the article directly here, with no paywall: