ACRD: First Nations are now at the decision-making table

[The Invisible Man]

I think THIS is good news for everyone. "For the first time in B.C., two representative from area First Nations bands will join the board. Representatives from Ucluelet (Yuu-cluth-aht) and Huu-ay-aht First Nation join Bamfield, Beaufort, Long Beach, Sproat Lake, Beaver Creek, Cherry Creek, City of Port Alberni, and districts of Tofino and Ucluelet, as a result of the signing of the Maa-nulth Treaty that came into effect on April 1, 2011."

The way I see it, with First Nations at the regional board table, decisions will better reflect the needs of the valley. It will also reduce duplication of services and possibly help attract federal funds for improving local infrastructure.

[CanAbyss]

So does that mean the other directors have a say on how things are done on native lands?

[chrisale]

ACRD directors for, say, Beaver Creek, don't have a say on what happens in the City of Port Alberni or in Tofino or Ucluelet. The two bands involved are effectively a municipal level of government, so no, the ACRD directors wouldn't have any more say on how things are done in those territories.

Regional Districts are cooperative bodies, not supervisory. In fact in many ways they defer to Municipal Council or now First Nation Council powers.

[The Invisible Man]

I dunno Chris. I think that the ACRD board of directors acts as a democratic body and each director does have a say in any/all decisions.

[chrisale]

My point though was that the ACRD doesn't deal with issues internal to municipal governments in the district. ... They only deal with issues that all or some members share in common (or in funding).

Perhaps I read it wrong, but I think Canabyss was asking more about issues in the first scenario than in the second.

[The Invisible Man]

I am not so sure how First Nation's reserve land fits into the equation. I know when I drew up maps for the BC Forest Service, Indian Reserves were always considered "administrative land" or "private land."

[lionking]

I am not so sure how First Nation's reserve land fits into the equation. I know when I drew up maps for the BC Forest Service, Indian Reserves were always considered "administrative land" or "private land."

This I know for sure only native people can own land on a reserve. If your spouse isn't native and, you pass away you can only stay if you had a child/children together. The land house everything is passed on to the children. If there are no children you have to leave and, the land is resold to another native person.
You do not get any money back. That I certainly didn't agree with.

Years ago when a non native person married a native person, the non native persons statics was changed to native, that likely would have been done legally? That was changed about 15 years ago, now if a native person marries a non native person they keep their own statics, any children born between them are native and, are entitled to all their inheritance. IMO that is the correct way it should be. I know the first band I am speaking about is how things are done as of a year ago.
The other band I am speaking about is my girl friends band and, she is still considered native, and her children are native and, both her daughters married non native men and, the grandchildren are all native and entitled to their inheritance. I also know that some bands are richer then others. Each band makes there own decisions.

[The Invisible Man]

Today I found out that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada acts on behalf of the First Nation in respect of interests granted on a reserve and those lands are not subject to a Land Code. In addition, there are special interests granted by First Nation members that hold a certificate of possession on a reserve. In other words, CanAbyss posed a good question. It appears that local government officials do not have jurisdiction in decisions relating to Indian Reserves.

[chrisale]

Except these Nations are no longer under the Indian Act. They have ratified their own treaty (the Maanulth treaty).

They are now self-governing jurisdictions.

That is indeed the whole historic point of them being able to now join the ACRD and play a full role as much as they choose to just as any other body in the region could.

The other Nations in the regional district including those with reserves closest to Port Alberni are not part of the Maanulth treaty so the (century) old rules of the Indian Act apply.

The maanulth have a website.
Check it out, good information there.http://www.maanulth.ca/

APTN has a good report here:
Maa-nulth escapes Indian Act after signing historic treaty

[The Invisible Man]

That's interesting. In effect, the new treaty cuts out Indian and Northern Affairs. This sounds like a good thing for everyone.

[chrisale]

Precisely. It's a huge and historic step forward and worth serious celebration. There will be growing pains I'm sure, but in all it's got to be considered a good thing.

The Maa-nulth peoples are effectively no longer wards of the state. It must be feeling of liberation for them.

[CanAbyss]

I think its great they are now self governing and will slowly be weened off the financial tit of government. I have read through a few articles now on the Maanulth and looked for reference about their role in the ACRD. Do they have voting power while they hold a directors position? Will they be contributing financially to the ACRD? For example. Sproat lake has a Marine Patrol that is financed by the ACRD. The financing is approved and voted on by all members of the ACRD board of directors. So if hypothetically the vote came down to a 50/50 ( before the Maanulth have casted) and the new directors from the Maanulth decide to vote against this funding, how is it fair they have a voice when they in affect do not contribute financially to the ACRD. I am asking theses questions because I really dont know and would love it if someone could clarify this for me.

[chrisale]

As full representatives on the ACRD it seems logical that they wouldn't be any different from the other members in terms of funding or whatever.


But considering its brand new and never done before it seems reasonable to assume the details might not be available for a while while they figure everything out.

[Sponsored content]