Province of BC adopts UNDRIP
A Day to Celebrate!
On November 26th the Province of BC adopted the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) into legislation. BC is the first province to commit to aligning its laws with UNDRIP. This legislation is the first steps towards the meaningful implementation of UNDRIP.
What does this mean?
This Act has the potential to establish a new approach on the part of the Province which recognizes indigenous Peoples’ laws and jurisdiction in respect to ancestral lands.
- The government must take all measures necessary to ensure the laws of BC are consistent with UNDRIP.
- The government must prepare and implement an action plan, in consultation with Indigenous peoples, to achieve the objectives of UNDRIP.
- The government must prepare an annual report on the progress that has been made towards implementing the measures.
The legislation also creates the opportunity for the establishment for a framework of shared decision making between the Province and Indigenous governments. Both the Premier and Minister have stated that the UNDRIP legislation does not provide Indigenous nations a veto.
Why Is this Important?
The UNDRIP legislation is an important step for the decolonization of the existing colonial structures and laws. This is the first step towards transforming the relationship between indigenous peoples and the Province and institutionalizing the respect for the rights of Indigenous peoples.
This bill is also important as it creates more accountability by requiring action plans and annual reporting. This is also the first time that First Nations Leadership has working with Government for the drafting of legislation.
This is a fundamental shift away from consultation towards consent-based decision making. This legislation is also important step towards recognizing and protecting the inherent rights of Indigenous Peoples which might not otherwise meet the requirements developed in respect of section 35.
This legislation is a real step towards the meaningful recognition and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples in BC.
Tḱemlúps Chief and Council celebrates this victory and is committed to being leaders in the implementation of UNDRIP on behalf of membership.
TteS members please update mailing address
*Please Note*
TteS Chief and Council is requesting that all Members please ensure you have an up-to-date, and accurate Mailing address on file with the Band Communications team. It is very important that this information is kept up to date and accurate as possible, as it impacts mail outs for important things like membership cheques and membership information regarding title and rights and special projects such as our Governance work.
Please let the TteS Communications team know if your mailing address has changed, or if you think we have an incorrect mailing address on file for you.
Kukwstsétsemc,
BC Cabinet and First Nations Leadership Gathering
Chief and Council attended the BC Cabinet and First Nations Leadership Gathering on November 5 and 6th. This is an annual event that allows First Nations leadership the chance to engage at a Government to Government level with the Provincial Cabinet.
On Monday November 4th, political and technical representatives of the Qs G2G team reported out on the work to date to the Minister Scott Fraser from the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation (MIIR) and Ministry Doug Donaldson from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD). Thanks to the QS G2G team for all their hard work and the great progress that has already been made.
On Monday, the Leadership also participated in a QS G2G and SSN “prep” session for the upcoming meetings with the Ministers.
On November 5 there were six meetings for Ttes including meeting with Ministers and high-level bureaucrats from the Ministry of Labour, Agriculture, Mental Health and Addictions, Finance, the Attorney General (AG) and Transportation and Infrastructure. At each meeting, the Leadership spoke to the key issues and submitted a briefing note to each Ministry. There were also three meetings for the SSN (MIIR, FLNRORD and Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Forests(MEMPR). Thanks to the SSN team as well for their organization and great work in preparing for these meetings.
On Day 2, there were 14 scheduled meetings between meetings on behalf of Ttes, SSN and QS G2G. The Chief and Council met with the following Ministries: Finance, Education, Environment, AG, MIRR, MEMPR, FLNRORD, Advanced Education, Skills and Training, Health, Children and Family Development, Municipal Affairs and Housing and Public Safety and Solicitor General/Emergency Management BC.
It was a busy few days!
Leadership would also like to thank all the Ttes staff for their support in getting prepared for these meetings. Kukwstsétsemc everyone!
Chief and Council will be following up with each Ministry to ensure our discussions with the Provincial government are kept on track.
Removal of all sex-based inequities in the Indian Act
News release
Government of Canada Implements Remaining Provisions of Bill S-3, Ending Sex-Based Inequities
August 15, 2019 — Gatineau, Quebec — Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada and Indigenous Services Canada
The Government of Canada is committed to gender equality and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples, and is eliminating all remaining sex-based inequities from Indian Act registration provisions going back to its inception 150 years ago.
Today, the Government of Canada has brought into force the final provisions under Bill S-3, which removes the 1951 cut-off from the Indian Act registration provisions. Bringing these remaining provisions of Bill S-3 into force responds to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls’ calls to Justice and is in line with the United Nations Human Rights Committee decision on the claim brought forward by Sharon McIvor and Jacob Grismer.
It also reflects the recommendations from the Minister’s Special Representative, Claudette Dumont-Smith, who led consultations on the removal of the 1951 cut-off as part of a broader process about Indian Act registration reform and band membership and citizenship. The Government is also committed to implementing the implementation plan set out by Ms. Dumont-Smith in her recommendations.
This means that as of August 15, 2019, all descendants born prior to April 17, 1985 to women who lost status or were removed from band lists because of their marriage to a non-Indian man dating back to 1869, will be entitled to registration, bringing them in line with the descendants of men who never lost status.
Once registered, First Nations individuals will be eligible for federal benefits and services such as Treaty payments, post-secondary education funding, and Non-Insured Health Benefits.
Information on eligibility, the registration process and required documents, as well as general information on Bill S-3 and the removal of the 1951 cut-off, can be found at: Indian status and Collaborative Process on Indian Registration, Band Membership and First Nation Citizenship: Consultation Plan.
Not included in Federal Indian Day Schools settlement, Day Scholars still seeking compensation
Homelessness (The Province)
Housing, addiction treatment needed to end homelessness, Kamloops advocates say
Claims Process, 60’s Scoop
https://www.canada.ca/en/crown-indigenous-relations-northern-affairs/news/2018/11/claims-process-now-open-for-sixties-scoop-survivorsapproved-settlement-to-provide-compensation-funding-for-charitable-foundation.html
Be mindful of the deadline Aug 30, 2019
Coyote Catch and Release
Coyote Release
Weytk-p
The Natural Resource department has been working hard to reduce the coyote population throughout the community, and so the 4th coyote in the last week was taken and relocated out of the subdivision. Please take caution when you see these animals and give them lots of room. The Natural Resource department will trapping this area throughout the summer. Please do not approach any box traps when you are in this area.
This area will always have wildlife within it as it is a very large piece of riparian habitat.
Kukwstsétsemc
Barry