Incremental or stepping-stone approaches to the negotiation of treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements are affirmed by the RRR Policy. The following range of incremental treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements can be negotiated through an incremental or stepping-stone approach:
- resource revenue sharing and economic benefit sharing agreements;
- shared decision making agreements;
- self-government, legal capacity, nation-building and governance capacity-building agreements;
- agreements and other constructive arrangements that address early land transfers and jurisdictional arrangements;
- treaties, agreements and other constructive arrangements that address redress, and free, prior and informed consent; and
- core treaties, incremental treaty agreements, and sectoral agreements.
Incremental or stepping-stone approaches to the negotiation of a treaty are available to all First Nations participating in the BC treaty negotiations framework, including those who have previously, or are currently, engaged in the six-stage negotiations process, whether continuing to work towards a comprehensive treaty, or negotiating a core or sectoral treaty, an agreement, or other constructive arrangements.
First Nations can negotiate a comprehensive treaty while simultaneously engaging in the negotiation of subject-specific, incremental agreements or other constructive arrangements.
Taking a stepping-stone approach can demonstrate incremental progress, increase community support, help build capacity, signal commitment, build trust, and bring benefits earlier in the process.
Flexibility and incrementalism can assist First Nations to build agreements that are robust and better suited to their specific needs. Where a First Nation is pursuing flexible and incremental approaches to negotiations, they are not required to complete treaty chapters concurrently or as a prerequisite, unless there is consensus among the parties that chapter production is part of the incremental approach.