B.C. NDP touts treaty amid ongoing pushback to DRIPA changes

A milestone treaty with the K’omoks First Nation was signed against a backdrop of strained relations between the government and Indigenous leaders.

Pageantry marked the B.C. NDP tabling legislation for a treaty with the K’omoks First Nation Tuesday—the result of 30 years of negotiations.

“It’s an emotional day—very proud and historic day for the K’omoks people,” said an emotional Chief Councillor Nicole Rempel.

However, the celebratory moment comes amid a backdrop of seriously strained relations between First Nations leaders and Premier David Eby.

“I think this whole fumbling on the issue of DRIPA has called his leadership into question,” said Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, the president of the B.C. Union of Indian Chiefs.

Eby walked back a confidence vote Monday on legislation that would have paused parts of DRIPA—the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act—a climb-down reflecting he didn’t have full support within his own caucus. Eby still plans to table a bill pausing parts of the act, but it won’t be a confidence vote that could topple his government.

“We call on the premier to put a stop to this pause and to get back to the table,” said Robert Phillips, the head of First Nations Summit.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Spencer Chandra Herbert, dismissed suggestions the timing of Tuesday’s treaty signing was awkward.

“I’d say there’s never a bad time to do reconciliation,” said Herbert. “There’s never a bad time to make a treaty and come together. Now is a very good time to show that we can find that path together.”

It’s an increasingly fraught path as DRIPA has attracted growing controversy after the courts cited it in a ruling related to mining, favouring Indigenous rights.

Former B.C. Green MLA Adam Olsen voted in support of DRIPA, and says he’s saddened that the premier, who was attorney general in 2019 when the act was passed, has changed his stance.

“It’s a really sad day in British Columbia and he is leading us down a very, very dark path,” said Olsen Tuesday.

The treaty itself is also not without controversy. Neighbouring First Nations say they want it paused while territorial boundaries are sorted out.

“We don’t want to get in the way of nations’ progress towards being self-sufficient and self-governing, but at the cost of other nations,” said Ken Watts, the Chief Councillor of Tseshaht First Nation.

The treaty still has to be ratified by the federal government if it advances through the B.C. legislature without pause or problem.