Tla'Amin (Sliammon) First Nation is condemning Prime Minister Stephen Harper's government for inaction on its final treaty.
In a press release issued on Thursday, March 3, Tla'Amin Chief Clint Williams "strongly" condemned the federal government for stalling the treaty process, a delay that has cost the First Nation millions of dollars and further perpetuates financial hardships on the community.
Federal, provincial and Tla'Amin chief negotiators shook hands on a final agreement in June 2010. Both Tla'Amin and the province have signed off on the handshake agreement, but federal government officials have not. Tla'Amin can't proceed with ratification of the treaty until the federal government signs off on the agreement.
At the end of January, Tla'Amin officials learned from John Weston, Conservative MP for West Vancouver-Sunshine Coast-Sea to Sky Country riding, that he had concerns about provisions in the treaty that he thinks are unconstitutional.
"We are absolutely appalled and stunned that our own MP, John Weston, has not been a strong supporter for moving this matter forward," Williams said. "What makes this situation all the more infuriating is that Mr. Weston informed us in a meeting [eight] months after we concluded negotiations with Ottawa and Victoria that he believes that treaties are 'unconstitutional.' This assertion is baseless in fact and in law and is deeply offensive coming from Mr. Weston. We are truly shocked and speechless."
In the meeting, Weston expressed concern about provisions in the treaty where Tla'Amin laws prevail over federal and provincial laws, said Roy Francis, Tla'Amin's chief negotiator.
Weston told the Powell River Peak that the delays had nothing to do with him. He also pointed out when Tla'Amin had a problem with fish allocations, he helped the First Nation directly with the minister of fisheries.
"I have not been a source of delay on this," Weston said. "However, I have pointed out a constitutional issue that should be well known to them and it's an issue that should be of concern to people generally."
Weston said he learned there was a potential constitutional problem in Tla'Amin's treaty in December.
"I knew nothing about the constitutional issue until recently," he said. "That's why I'm saying I was not responsible for delays, at least until recently. In fact I've helped them accelerate through by working with them on a fisheries issue."
Weston said he brought his concerns forward to Williams and Francis during a meeting he had with them in Powell River at the end of January.
"I brought this to their attention to make sure they knew about it," Weston said. "I told them directly I would not support an unconstitutional term that was potentially bad for Sliammon people as well as for other Canadians."
