NORTH VANCOUVER – Leaders of the First Nations Summit are insisting that the province return to active good faith treaty negotiations following today’s conclusion of the provincial referendum on treaty negotiations.
“A substantive majority of more than 1.5 million British Columbians chose to boycott or spoil their referendum ballot. This clearly shows most British Columbians saw this for the ill conceived and flawed process it was. No matter what the results are, they do not represent the views of the majority”, said Herb George, a member of the First Nations Summit political executive. “First Nations in the treaty process are committed to negotiating fair, honourable and timely treaties as a means of reconciling Aboriginal and Crown title in BC. We expect the provincial, as well as federal, government to show the same level of commitment with a return to substantive negotiations immediately”.