Members of the Maa-nulth Treaty Group successfully negotiated an update to their agreement with the new provincial government.
Local MLA and Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser says while the Liberal Government saw treaties as a done deal, the new NDP Government sees them as living documents that can be improved as needed.
Huu-ay-aht Chief Councillor Robert Dennis says the new agreement will speed up negotiations towards chip-seal pavement for Bamfield Main.
Dennis said in the past any requests would be referred to junior bureaucrats – now they have a direct line to the Minister, who has the mandate to approve economic and resource development projects.
In a signing ceremony on Friday, the 5 Maa-nulth Nations signed an agreement with the province on a new consultation strategy designed to solve issues before the mediation clauses are invoked.