Treaty 8 First Nations and BC Government Announce Collaborative Approach to Land and Resource Planning

The BC provincial government and four Treaty 8 First Nations—Fort Nelson, Saulteau, Halfway River, and Doig River First Nations—announced on Friday (1-20-23) that they have reached a consensus on a collaborative approach to land and resource planning and to advance regional solutions to benefit everyone living in northeastern BC and Treaty 8 territory.

The agreements follow a BC Supreme Court ruling in June 2021 that determined that the constitutionally protected Treaty 8 rights of the Blueberry First Nations have been breached by cumulative impacts of industrial development that had been authorized by successive provincial governments over many years.

Since the June 2021 ruling, these First Nations and the BC provincial government have worked closely to co-develop an initial partnership approach for the planning and management of lands and resources. Together, the Province and partner First Nations have co-developed a set of initiatives, termed the Consensus Document.

The initiatives set out in the Consensus Document build a path that meets the Crown’s obligations to uphold the constitutionally protected rights of Treaty 8 First Nations, restore the environment, and support responsible resource development and economic activity in the northeast. This will ensure that, together, the Province and the First Nations are stewarding the land in an effort to achieve sustainability for future generations.