Protests shift to protocol: B.C. First Nations hail new way forward for business

VANCOUVER – A B.C. First Nations grand chief says his people can quit blockading trains thanks to a new joint agreement for resource and revenue sharing with the province.

Robert Pasco, who represents the Nlaka’pamux (ENT’-lah-CAP’-um-uc) Nation Tribal Council, is hailing an 18-month pilot project giving First Nations a seat on a decision-making board involving business in their territory.

Pasco says the pilot agreement, between the B.C. government and the five member First Nations in B.C.’s Fraser Canyon, shows there is a better way to get business done.

The first company before the board will be Teck Resources, the owner of the Highland Valley Copper Mine, and if that goes well the partnership will expand to other mines, and also the roads and forestry sectors.

Teck representative Peter Martell says the philosophy in the mining industry has changed, and the company now believes it must make decisions together with First Nations as well as share the benefits.

B.C. Minister for Aboriginal Relations John Rustad says the province is investing $550,000 in the pilot, and the First Nations has already worked out an agreement for 37.5 per cent of mineral tax revenue coming from the Highland mine.