Stephanie Gustin

BC Treaty Commission

The British Columbia Treaty Commission advocates for and facilitates the recognition and protection of First Nations rights and title, and the implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples through the negotiation of modern treaties and agreements. It is the only independent tripartite statutory body in the country whose mandate is to support reconciliation. The Treaty Commission is the independent body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations among First Nations in BC and the governments of Canada and BC. The Treaty Commission does not negotiate treaties — that is done by the three parties at each negotiation table. The Treaty Commission and the negotiations framework were established in 1992 by agreement among Canada, BC, and the First Nations Summit. They are guided by those agreements and the 1991 Report of the BC Claims Task Force, which is the blueprint for the made-in-BC treaty process. The Treaty Commission and the six-stage treaty negotiations framework were designed to advance negotiations and facilitate fair and durable treaties. The Treaty Commission has three main roles: Facilitating treaty negotiations, including assisting the Parties in finding solutions and resolving disputes; Allocating negotiation support funding to enable First Nations to participate in negotiations; and Educating the public and providing information about treaty negotiations. In 2018 this mandate was expanded to include supporting negotiating Parties in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action, the Principles Respecting the Government of Canada's Relationship with Indigenous Peoples, and the recognition of First Nations title and rights.