Te’mexw Treaty Negotiations
On this page…
- Te’mexw Treaty Negotiations
- Each Te’mexw Member Nation Treaty will
- Local government, interest holders, and public engagement
- Open houses
- About modern treaties
- About negotiations
Overview
Who: Government and the 5 Te’mexw Treaty Association members
What: Treaty negotiations for these five member nations
Where: Vancouver Island
Why: To advance reconciliation
How: In-person
Te’mexw Treaty Negotiations
The Te’mexw Treaty Association (TTA) is negotiating modern treaties on behalf of its five member Nations:
- Malahat
- Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW)
- Songhees
- Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose)
- T’Sou-ke
Te’mexw Treaty Nations, Canada and British Columbia have been in negotiations since 1995. Treaties are part of Canada and British Columbia’s work to advance reconciliation guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the Recognition and Reconciliation of Rights Policy for treaty negotiations in British Columbia. Although the five First Nations are negotiating together, the negotiations will result in five separate treaties.
The Te’mexw Treaty negotiations are now in the final stage, Stage 5, of the BC Treaty Commission Treaty Process. Read about the treaty process and different stages here.
open
Contact us: Temexw.Treaty@gov.bc.ca
Each Te’mexw Member Nation Treaty will
- Recognize the pre-existing rights of each Nation and set out the Nation, Canada and B.C.’s agreement about how those rights will be exercised
- Recognize and establish self-government and law making for each Nation
- Return lands to the five Nations to govern and manage
- Address important matters of language, culture and heritage
- Provide the basis for a revitalized relationship between the Nations and all levels of government
This also means that the five First Nations will have ownership and jurisdiction over their treaty settlement lands and can determine how best to use them.
Each of the five Nations will have the right to self-govern and make laws concerning their lands and citizens. For example, they may choose to make laws about health services, education and child and family services for their members.
The treaties will encourage investment, create jobs, expand economic development and support social well-being for Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW) , Malahat, Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose), Songhees, and T’Sou-ke First Nations’ communities.
Sooke Mountain and Discovery Island Marine provincial parks are being considered for inclusion in treaties being negotiated with the T’Sou-ke and Songhees Nations. Learn more about these proposed treaty lands.
Local government, interest holders, and public engagement
Engagement with local governments and interest holders and groups has been ongoing and will continue through this final stage of negotiations. Engagement helps to build awareness of the Te’mexw Member Nations’ Treaties as a step towards reconciliation and supports long-term good neighbour relations. The treaty partners seek to better understand public hopes and concerns and, in turn, help the public gain greater understanding about the treaties.
A new round of engagement launched in January 2023. It includes presentations to local governments and in-person and virtual open house opportunities for the public to learn about final stage of the TTA treaty negotiations as a step towards reconciliation.
On February 23, provincial staff presented to Victoria City Council on the Te’mexw Treaty Negotiations as the parties move to the final stage of negotiations, including information about lands proposed to become Treaty Settlement Lands. Here is the presentation from that council meeting.
Open houses
Negotiations between TTA, B.C. and Canada are coming to a close. Thank you to everyone who joined TTA, B.C. and Canada at an open house to find out more and share input on the five proposed treaties. If you missed the opportunity to attend an open house but have a specific question that isn’t answered from the page content, please use the contact email at the bottom of the page.
Make sure to sign-up for email updates to find out about future engagement opportunities and key milestones in treaty negotiations.
About modern treaties
Modern treaties will create and clarify a new and equal relationship between the First Nations, Canada and B.C. based on mutual trust, respect and understanding. They will be protected under the Canadian Constitution and include a range of rights and obligations that all levels of government, including Treaty Nations, recognize and commit to. Treaties outline responsibilities and jurisdiction over treaty lands, including access, governance, financial benefits, taxation and environmental management including wildlife.
About negotiations
An Agreement in Principle (Stage 4) was signed in 2015, which identifies interests in lands and resources and includes a framework for self-government, financial arrangements and more. It forms the basis for the treaties. Read the Agreement in Principle (AIP) here.
Once negotiations are concluded, members of each First Nation will have an opportunity to vote on their treaty. The treaty also must be approved by B.C. and Canada before it comes into effect.
Find out more about the Te’mexw Treaty Nations:
- Te’mexw Treaty Association: We Are The Te’mexw Treaty Association – YouTube
- Te’mexw Treaty Association: www.temexw.org
- beecherbay.ca
- malahatnation.com
- snawnawas.org
- songheesnation.ca
- tsoukenation.com
Additional links:
- BC Treaty Commission
- B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act
- Te’mexw Treaty Association Agreement-in-Principle (AiP) – 2015
- Malahat Incremental Treaty Agreement – 2013
- Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW) Incremental Treaty Agreement – 2013
- Songhees Incremental Treaty Agreement – 2013
- Snaw-Naw-as (Nanoose) Incremental Treaty Agreement – 2013
- T’Sou-ke Nation Incremental Treaty Agreement – 2013
Contact us: Temexw.Treaty@gov.bc.ca
