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UPDATE: Federal gov’t, shíshálh Nation sign ‘Letter of Understanding’

The Canadian government and shíshálh Nation signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) Feb.
shíshálh

The Canadian government and shíshálh Nation signed a Letter of Understanding (LOU) Feb. 15 that commits the two parties to “explore a number of key topics and priorities that would support the negotiation of a long-term nation-to-nation reconciliation agreement.”

A news release issued by Ottawa last Friday said the discussions will focus on “how to implement shíshálh’s Aboriginal title and rights, recognize shíshálh’s right to self-determination, advance socio-economic prosperity and health for the shíshálh people, and revitalize shíshálh language and culture.”

The contents of the document are not being made public, the Department of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs said Thursday.

“Discussions are conducted on a confidential basis. Canada must respect the confidentiality of the ongoing talks with the shíshálh Nation and is not in a position to share the LOU at this time,” the department told Coast Reporter in an email.

Ottawa has signed LOUs with several B.C. First Nations in recent weeks as part of a nationwide initiative. “There are 37 jointly developed agreements (such as Letters of Understanding, Memoranda of Understanding and Framework Agreements) that have been signed at Recognition of Indigenous Rights and Self-Determination discussion tables across Canada,” 17 of them in B.C., the department said.

Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, said in a statement that the shíshálh LOU “demonstrates that the Government of Canada is committed to working with the shíshálh Nation to support their vision of self-determination.”

Chief Warren Paull said the Nation entered into the LOU “as an exercise of our governance, and in order to enhance the exercise of shíshálh’s title and rights,” adding that it “creates a path forward for the outstanding work between our Nations.”