Treaty
Despite all of the inventions and innovations of the last hundred years, many of the First Nation communities in Canada have benefited little from them. First Nation people in Canada live, by in large, in communities that are isolated from larger centers, in houses that are substandard, with high rates of suicide and infant and elder mortality, low rates of education and often with high level of communicable diseases that have nearly been eradicated in the larger Canadian population. Almost every aspect of daily life is governed by some section of the Indian Act, and has resulted in creating a dependency on the government. Those who left the reserves in the hopes to better their situation, and fled to the big cities, have encountered a loss of culture and community that often leads to poor living and early death.
In British Columbia, the Provincial and Federal governments created the British Columbia Treaty Commission in 1992 to oversee the management of modern day treaties in this province. We saw this as a very tangible opportunity to change some of the conditions in our communities. Rather than continuing to wait and hope that conditions will change, this process allows us to take an active role in determining our future. Successful treaty negotiations will legislate the ability to govern ourselves, to make our own laws concerning our community, to be entrepreneurs and participate in the Canadian economy, to raise our children to be proud of their lineage, and to use and protect our traditional territory and its resources in ways that are appropriate to us.
In-SHUCK-ch is proud to claim that our commitment to this process was so strong, that we were first to submit our Statement of Intent to the British Columbia Treaty Commission. We have progressed, despite many setbacks and are currently engaged in completing a Final Agreement (Stage 5 of the process).
In-SHUCK-ch Nation
41290-B Lougheed Hwy,
Deroche, BC, V0M 1G0
Ph: 604.820.6873
Fax: 604.820.6847
general@inshuckch.com
Copyright 2004 In-SHUCK-ch
