Members of the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations were in Victoria March 26 to celebrate the signing of an Incremental Treaty Agreement (ITA) with the provincial government that will see their respective nations each receive parcels of land.
The Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation announced that Ditidaht will receive three parcels of land totaling just over 420 hectares over the course of treaty negotiations.
Ditidaht Chief Jack Thompson confirms that the first parcel of land was transferred to Ditidaht at the March 26 signing ceremony. It is a parcel of land located on Nitinaht Lake between two existing Indian Reserves, Oyees and Doobah. That parcel of land, he says, is about 320 hectares.
Ditidaht Nation will receive a second parcel of land when they sign off on their AIP and the third parcel when they’ve reached a final treaty agreement.
Pacheedaht’s three parcels of land total 596 hectares and are located south east of Port Renfrew. The terms and conditions for acquisition of their three parcels of land is the same as Ditidaht’s.
Agreement brings benefits to the Ditidaht First Nation
Aboriginal Relations Minister Ida Chong said her government sees ITA’s as a key tool for reconciliation with First Nations. The benefits First Nations receive through ITA’s are meant to provide advance economic opportunities to First Nations communities. They are considered advances on the final treaty settlement package.
Ditidaht and Pacheedaht have been negotiating their treaty together since 1997.
The land transfers will be held by the nations in Fee Simple and will be subject to provincial and federal laws, zoning and taxation. After the final treaty is signed the parcels will become treaty settlement lands.
Chief Thompson said he will meet with his community in order to decide how to use the land.
“It will give us a head start on our economic development strategy and we want to work closely with Parks Canada and the West Coast Trail,” Thompson said.
Pacheedaht Chief Marvin McClurg said their ITA lands may be used to showcase the natural beauty of their homelands through ecotourism ventures.
If all goes well, Thompson said he hopes Ditidaht will be signing their final treaty agreement in about two years.
