EDITORIAL: Get ready for more claims
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Updated: November 19, 2009 9:20 AM
The lawsuit launched this week by the Songhees people over lands that made up their traditional territory in Saanich and Oak Bay didn’t come out of the blue. It’s just the latest move by an urban-based First Nation to cry foul over promises broken by B.C.’s earliest governors to maintain the land for them.
Don’t be surprised to see further South Island claims made by the Songhees, not to mention bands in Central Saanich, Metchosin and Sooke.
Clearly, the government won’t be handing over already developed, privately owned residential or commercial lands to First Nations in lieu of appropriations of traditional territories.
But there’s a lot of cash at stake here.
Three years ago almost to the day, the province announced an agreement to pay $31.5 million to the Songhees and Esquimalt First Nation to resolve a claim on lands on and around where the B.C. legislature stands.
And two years ago this month, the province transferred over about 88 hectares of prime real estate in Vancouver to the Musqueam First Nation, an agreement involving an estimated $1 billion-plus worth of developable land.
Recommendations in the 1991 B.C. Claims Task Force report state that the treaty negotiation process be open to all First Nations in the province. The B.C. Treaty Commission, formed in 1992 to monitor adherence to the report, clarifies that in its mission statement, commenting that First Nations that have signed “Douglas Treaties” and those whose traditional territories are now covered by urban areas must not be excluded from the treaty process.
Righting old wrongs imposed on First Nations is a critical part of moving forward for all British Columbians, even if that means all taxpayers will be on the financial hook.
We would stress, however, that once settlements are reached, whether they be for cash or a relinquishment of land, that they be considered legally binding and final so everyone truly can move on.
