Learning From Success Emphasized in BC Treaty Commission 2012 Annual Report

VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 10, 2012) - Twenty years after the BC Treaty Process Agreement was signed, the BC Treaty Commission has today released its annual report titled "Learning from our Success".

At the press conference today, Chief Commissioner Sophie Pierre noted, "The treaty negotiations process the parties signed on to 20 years ago is not broken, the principles it was based on are not broken, what is broken is the way the parties have chosen to interpret their commitments made that day stating positions or take it or leave it mandates rather than interests."

She added, "Today, as the treaty commission releases our annual report, we want to acknowledge that it has been 20 years since this process was established to facilitate treaty making in British Columbia. I was there at the signing of the British Columbia Treaty Commission Agreement in September of 1992. I recently viewed the video footage of the signing ceremony 20 years ago. It was very moving and reminds me once again of why we are on this journey and why it is vital that we get it right!"

The BC Treaty Commission travelled across the province to conduct video interviews with 13 leaders to candidly talk with those who brought treaties home as well as those who are working earnestly towards that day. The video interviews are available on the Commission website at www.bctreaty.ca/files/twenty-year-anniversary-videos.php.

In addition to the video interviews and the feature article, the commission has recently developed a timeline highlighting 2o years of treaty making. It can be viewed at http://www.bctreaty.ca/twenty-years.php.

Although the 2012 annual report emphasizes learning from success, it also underscores the remaining challenges that exist to be addressed.

"Thankfully, we have seen more concentrated effort to move the negotiations along than we had seen in the past three years. Yes, there's still a long way to go, but at least we seem to be heading in the right direction," she concluded.

About the BC Treaty Commission

The Treaty Commission is the independent body responsible for overseeing treaty negotiations among the governments of Canada, BC and First Nations in BC. It has three roles: facilitation, funding, and public information and education. Visit www.bctreaty.ca to learn more about the Treaty Commission.