Raise British Columbians awareness and understanding of treaty negotiations

• Worked with British Columbia Treaty Commission (BCTC), First Nations Summit and Federal Treaty Negotiation Office to carry out province-wide public education programs
• Released a report outlining the financial and economic benefits of treaty settlements which was produced for the ministry by management consultants Grant Thornton Staffed toll-free telephone line to answer public inquiries on a wide range of topics, including the Nisga'a Final Agreement
• Produced and distributed 36 news releases
• Published 1999 Guide to Aboriginal Organizations and Services
• Continued a community outreach program in Prince George for distribution of information on regional treaty negotiations
• Updated ministry web site on an ongoing basis

• Conducted ongoing public information activities, including news conferences, events, and print and broadcast advertising
• Responded to more than 18,000 calls related to the Nisga'a Final Agreement on the ministry toll-free information line
• Organized and held more than 300 meetings to discuss the Nisga'a Final Agreement with community groups
• Printed and distributed more than 40,000 copies of the Nisga'a Final Agreement and 60,000 copies of the Nisga'a Final Agreement in Brief
• Produced fact sheets on topics outlined in the Nisga'a Final Agreement
• Arranged production of a Nisga'a Final Agreement video which was screened on Knowledge Network, posted on the Internet and distributed to public libraries, organizations and individuals
• Released Nisga'a fisheries and finance side agreements (Harvest Agreement, Own Source Revenue Agreement, Fiscal Financing Agreement and Taxation Agreement)
• Posted Nisga'a information on the ministry web site, which was visited more than 260,000 times

• Developed tripartite public information plans with federal government and First Nation representatives for all active treaty tables
• Advertised main table sessions in local newspapers and through media notices and pamphlets
• Informed local media of progress in negotiations and facilitated media relations with negotiators
• Worked with community organizations, First Nations and the federal government to conduct public meetings
• Prepared and distributed pamphlets and newspaper inserts
• Coordinated event planning, news releases, media relations and other communications tools to mark milestones in the treaty process
• Planned and executed ceremonies and media coverage for the signing of the Carcross/Tagish Framework Agreement, the Kwakuitl Laich-Kwil-Tach Framework Agreement and a transboundary agreement between the Kwakuitl Laich-Kwil-Tach Council of Chiefs and the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council

Announced the resumption of negotiations with the Sechelt Indian Band, the Sechelt Land and Cash Offer and the Sechelt Draft Agreement-in-Principle, through media relations, and distribution and Internet posting of documents

• Coordinated communications response to cross-ministry issues
• Prepared speaking notes and arranged briefings, media interviews and speaking engagements for the minister and deputy minister
• Provided communications support to ministers tour of the province to speak to local governments, media, First Nations and community groups

• Communicated progress at treaty tables through public meetings, published material, newspaper articles, special events, local media interviews and the ministry web site

• Continued support to the Aboriginal Relations Branch for communications related to interim measures, dispute resolution and negotiations outside the treaty process
• Announced an agreement between the province and the McLeod Lake Indian Band to negotiate settlement of the bands claim to land and benefits under Treaty No. 8
• Provided communications support to the minister at conferences and events related to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, off-reserve self-government and the Delgamuukw decision
• Coordinated media release and events listing for celebration of National Aboriginal Day in B.C.

 Negotiations Division

Administer the First Citizens Fund, and the First Peoples Heritage, Language and Culture Program

• Facilitated 127 loans totalling $4.3 million through the Business Loan Program
• Provided 139 student bursaries totalling $155,327 to aboriginal students attending post-secondary institutions
• Provided 27 elders organizations with assistance totalling $25,000 to attend cultural or educational gatherings
• Assisted friendship centres by distributing funding of $690,000 to program directors in 23 centres as well as $85,000 to the B.C. Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres
• Provided $700,000 to the First Peoples Heritage, Language and Culture Program for the preservation and enhancement of aboriginal languages in B.C.

• Negotiated the Gitxsan Reconciliation Agreement
• Re-negotiated the Wetsuweten Bilateral Accord of Recognition and Respect
• Continued negotiations of the Nazko Cut-off Claim
• Continued negotiations of the Metlakatla - Lax Kwalaams Cut-Off Claim

• Continued to implement Clayoquot Sound Scientific Panel recommendations, including establishing a planning committee in Clayoquot Sound (with participation by the province and Clayoquot Sound Central Region Board)
• Continued implementation of existing agreements (e.g. Clayoquot Sound Interim Measures Extension Agreement)

• Managed the specific/cut-off claims process, including evaluation of appropriate provincial role in graveyard alienation specific claims
• Developed draft report as component of Tseycum Heritage Working Group interim measures negotiations

• Developed a work plan and budget to facilitate tripartite negotiations with the Metis and encouraged inter-agency approach to improving relationships and service delivery
• Developed a work plan and budget to facilitate tripartite negotiations with off-reserve aboriginal organizations and encouraged inter-agency approach to improving relationships and service delivery
• Participated on the Downtown East Side/Urban Development Agreement steering committee
• Participated on the Vancouver Aboriginal Justice Diversion Project steering committee
• Participated on the First Nations House of Learning steering committee

Continue negotiations with Nisga'a Tribal Council and Canada toward reaching a Final Agreement

 
• Completed negotiations and initialled a Final Agreement with the Nisga'a Tribal Council and Canada
• Introduced Nisga'a Final Agreement into B.C. Legislative Assembly for debate

• Negotiated with Canada and First Nations at 42 treaty tables across the province
• Initialled Framework Agreement with one First Nation
• Signed two Framework Agreements under the BCTC process and one transboundary agreement

• Consulted with 50 Regional Advisory Committees (RACs) dedicated to treaty negotiations across the province
• Consulted regularly with local government TACs in 14 regions and facilitated representation by those committees on provincial caucuses and negotiating teams
• Continued evaluating provincial and regional advisory committee processes with a view to increasing effectiveness and improving information exchange as the parties enter new stages of negotiation
• Continued work with individual local governments, industry groups and other stakeholders to identify and clarify local interests in treaty negotiations
• Promoted further opportunities for direct dialogue between stakeholders and First Nations
• Continued support to the Aboriginal Relations Branch, as needed, for consultation processes related to interim measures, dispute resolution and other negotiations outside the BCTC process

• Continued Agreement-in-Principle negotiations with Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs, Haisla Nation, Heiltsuk Band Council and Tsimshian Tribal Council
• Signed bilateral accords of reconciliation with the Hereditary Chiefs of the Gitxsan and the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wetsuweten
• Conducted bilateral treaty negotiations with the Gitxsan and Wetsuweten

• Presented a land and cash offer to Sechelt and concluded Agreement-in-Principle negotiations
• Signed Openness Protocol and Procedures Agreement with Katzie and declared the treaty table ready for Framework Agreement negotiations
• Initialled a Framework Agreement with the Musqueam First Nation
• Negotiated toward an Agreement-in-Principle with In-SHUCK-ch NQuatqua, Cariboo Tribal Council, Esketemc, Yale, Tsawwassen and Tsleil Waututh First Nations
• Initialled seven draft Agreement-in-Principle chapters with In-SHUCK-ch NQuatqua 

• Continued Agreement-in-Principle negotiations with the Hulquminum Treaty Group, Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, TeMexw Treaty Association, and the Homalco, Klahoose, Sliammon and Snuneymuxw (Nanaimo) First Nations
• Signed a Framework Agreement and started Agreement-in-Principle negotiations with the Kwakiutl Laich-kwil-tach Nations Treaty Society
• Continued Framework Agreement negotiations with the Winalagalis
• Prepared comprehensive proposal for an Agreement-in-Principle with the Ditidaht and Pacheedaht First Nations
• Carried out negotiations with the Treaty Negotiations Alliance respecting treaty mandates

• Signed a Framework Agreement with the Carcross/Tagish First Nation
• Continued negotiations toward an Agreement-in-Principle with Ktunaxa Kinbasket, the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council, Yekooche, Kaska Dena and Westbank
• Responded to Tsay Keh Denes comprehensive treaty proposal by accelerating treaty negotiations with a view to reaching Agreement-in-Principle in summer 2000
•  Signed a Letter of Understanding with the Northern Nations Summit to create Northern Wildlife Policy Committee
• Increased the pace of negotiations with Lheidli Tenneh with a view to reaching Agreement-in-Principle in spring 2000
• Taku River Tlingit joined the transboundary negotiations (Champagne and Ashihik, Carcross/Tagish, Teslin Tlingit) to create the Northern Regional Negotiation Table 

Negotiations support division

Provide ongoing advice on treaty issues to provincial negotiators 

• Provided expertise on eligibility and enrolment, ratification, implementation, dispute resolution and amendment
• Reviewed policy documents, draft chapters and other materials

• Negotiated elements of the Nisga'a Final Agreement related to implementation, eligibility and enrolment, and ratification
• Monitored implementation of the ratification and eligibility and enrolment provisions of the Nisga'a Final Agreement
• Led the Provincial Team in tripartite negotiations related to the French translation of the Nisga'a Final Agreement

•  Managed preparation of the Nisga'a Final Agreement Act

• Developed a framework for provincial ministries responsible for implementing treaty obligations
•  Managed implementation of the Nisga'a Final Agreement to ensure the province is prepared to fulfil treaty obligations

• Provided expertise to the provincial negotiating team on eligibility and enrolment, ratification, implementation, dispute resolution and amendment

Provide ongoing land and resource information to provincial negotiation teams and enable fulfillment of the provinces Delgamuukw obligations 

• Responded to provincial negotiators information requirements to address specific negotiation issues at 42 treaty tables by:

- integrating land and resource data from external sources, including government agencies, industry, Crown corporations and interest groups;
- providing base maps, digital data, charts, analysis and reports to treaty tables;
- continuing regional mapping of lands and resources to support treaty tables

• Managed the delivery of the Nisga'a Final Agreement closing procedures, as a component of implementation, to ensure readiness on the treatys effective date 

• Funded 42 government-wide projects totalling $3.5 million for land and resource information collection and analysis to support First Nations treaty and pre-treaty negotiations
• Continued to provide land and resource information to support treaty negotiation tables
• Continued to improve government inventories of natural and cultural heritage resources and accessibility of information between ministries 

• Contributed information and technical support for negotiation of four provincial/federal cost-sharing agreements

• In cooperation with federal officials, held Opportunities for Information Sharing, an innovative First Nations information workshop

Objectives

• Participated in and provided cost-sharing and treaty process briefing materials and analysis support for the minister for two principals meetings
• Participated in and provided cost-sharing and treaty process briefing materials and analysis support for tripartite discussions regarding implications of Delgamuukw decision on the treaty process
• Participated in and provided cost-sharing and treaty process briefing materials and analysis support for a tripartite group formed to explore ways to accelerate treaty negotiations
• Negotiated with Canada a set of principles for cost sharing treaty-related measures at individual treaty tables

• Negotiated procedures with Canada regarding determination of the MOU Index, calculation of federal and provincial cash shares and treatment of adjustment funds
• Negotiated with Canada revisions to existing procedures on the determination of provincial forest land area and volume, harvest rate reductions and forest revenue rates
• Reached agreement with Canada on sharing implementation costs to fulfill obligations set out in a treaty 

• Entered into issue exploration and data exchange with Canada in preparation for cost-sharing negotiations regarding aboriginal self-government programs and services
• Continued, in cooperation with Canada, to update the First Nations Summit and the Treaty Negotiations Advisory Committee on negotiations to implement the 1993 Cost-Sharing MOU and negotiations on self-government cost-sharing 

• Completed the necessary cost-sharing calculations and agreements to enable Canada and British Columbia to table a treaty settlement offer with the Sechelt First Nation
• Provided support on cost-sharing issues to provincial negotiators at the Nisga'a treaty table in preparation for the signing of the Nisga'a Final Agreement
• Substantially completed representative hectare analysis and other cost-sharing calculations and agreements needed for land and cash offers at two treaty tables
• Completed district lot analyses of Crown lands subject to urban influence at three treaty tables
• With Canada, presented overall vision summary at three treaty tables
• Liaised with provincial negotiators regarding progress at individual treaty tables and provided general cost-sharing advice on various topics 

Passage of Settlement Legislation to approve the Nisga'a Final Agreement

• Provided support for legislative debates on Bill 51, the Nisga'a Final Agreement Act

• Developed financial mandates for 15 individual treaty negotiation tables
• Reviewed draft governance, lands and resources and fiscal Agreement-in-Principle chapters at several treaty tables
• Provided guidance to negotiators on specific issues arising at treaty tables
• Refined treaty mandates on governance, lands and resources and fiscal issues for individual treaty tables
• Provided direction to treaty negotiation tables on aboriginal self-government structures and authorities
• Led analysis and restructuring of the process for developing financial mandates for individual treaty tables

• Developed protocol agreement between the Province and the Union of B.C. Municipalities on local government and First Nations relationships, and related treaty issues
• Provided advice to provincial line ministries on initiatives including:

-aboriginal focused working group under the Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee on Prostitution and Sexually Exploited Youth
- Fish Protection Act
- Salmon Acquaculture
- inter-ministry committee on forest certification standards
• Provided advice on federal initiatives of importance to B.C. including off-reserve/Metis study, Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, First Nations Land Management Act, federal water strategy, Senate Committee on Aboriginal Governance and the National Childrens Agenda

• Worked with TNAC to review and provide advice on policy options regarding governance arrangements, third party compensation, wildlife management and the fisheries sector
• Promoted dialogue between stakeholders as represented by TNAC and First Nations

•  Within the context of the federal, provincial, territorial meeting of ministers responsible for aboriginal affairs:

- led development of a national Aboriginal Youth Strategy in co-operation with five national aboriginal organizations
- participated in the creation of a national process for discussing and addressing issues of concern to aboriginal people, with a defined role for the national aboriginal organizations
• With other western Canadian provinces, undertook research on approaches taken in other jurisdictions regarding self-government, lands and resources and fiscal issues

MANAGEMENT SERVICES DIVISION

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION BRANCH

Provide financial and administrative services to the ministry in a professional, effective, timely, accurate and efficient manner

• Managed finances effectively and efficiently, providing accounting services, financial planning and analysis to ministry executive and staff
• Completed a reorganization of headquarters to accommodate new resources and consolidate divisions
• Successfully introduced new financial processes to increase efficiency, including the electronic travel voucher and templates for commonly-used forms
•  Provided cost-effective corporate services for facilities, telecommunications and other administrative requirements of the ministry

Provide a full range of efficient and effective payroll and personnel support services to the ministry

• Provided services to ministry staff in all personnel and payroll areas, including staffing, classification, organizational development, labour relations, employment equity, occupational health and safety, training, pay and benefits
• Completed an extensive program of recruitment to ministry positions

• Completed the merger of services for the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and the Ministry of Womens Equality

Information Systems

Provide services to the ministry in all areas of information technology including its application to the business requirements of the ministry, supporting the desktop and network computer services and administering the ministry corporate data resources

 
• Continued development of projects identified in the ministrys Information Resource Management Plan
• Completed implementation of the corporate correspondence tracking system
• Developed a public enquiry database to monitor and respond to calls to the ministrys toll-free information line
• Developed a data warehouse for Geographic Information Systems data
• Continued work on a corporate contact management system
• Completed Year 2000 compliance for the ministrys business systems
• Upgraded the ministrys technical infrastructure to Windows NT 4.0
• Provided workstations, network connections and support for the Nisga'a Treaty Implementation Project

• Completed the merger of the Information Systems Branches of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs and the Ministry of Womens Equality

Provide services to the ministry in the areas of records management and administration of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOI)

• Responded to 33 requests under the Act
• Responded to 42 requests for advice from other ministries and organizations responding to FOI requests involving First Nations
• Provided advice and assistance to the ministry in the implementation of government-wide standard records classification systems
• Provided access to library materials for ministry employees
• Retrieved records relating to court cases involving First Nations

• Delivered records management and FOI services to the Ministry of Womens Equality

 

Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs

1998/99 Branch Expenditures ($000s)