Joint statement on Memorandum of Understanding on Wet'suwet'en rights and title

SMITHERS, BC, April 30, 2020 /CNW/ - Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation Scott Fraser and Federal Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Carolyn Bennett issued the following statement today:

"We welcome the confirmation that the Wet'suwet'en clans have completed their review of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) we reached together on February 29, 2020 to affirm and implement Wet'suwet'en title and rights and have given their support to sign it. We look forward to advancing this important work to implement Wet'suwet'en rights and title as three equal governments.

We have the health and well-being of our communities, families and friends at the forefront of all of our minds in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The collective response to the COVID-19 pandemic across the country has created extraordinary circumstances throughout Canada.

Given the recommendations from the Provincial Health Officer and the First Nations Health Authority to continue physical distancing measures and avoid non-essential travel, we are working out the details for the next steps, including signing the MOU and sharing it publicly.

The Wet'suwet'en have invited Minister Fraser and Minister Bennett to sign the MOU on May 14, 2020.  This time allows all three governments to organize a virtual meeting to sign.  It comes after the 33rd Anniversary of the start of the Delgamuukw/Gisday'wa case in Smithers in which the late Gisday'wa opened the trial. 

The Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chiefs, the Province of B.C. and Canada remain committed to implementing the rights and title of the Wet'suwet'en people through the MOU.  

There is a great deal of work ahead of us in the negotiation process agreed to in the MOU, to lay out how we will implement rights and title and how our three governments will work together into the future. As negotiations proceed on the affirmation and implementation of Wet'suwet'en rights and title, we will move forward with transparency and openess, and will be further engaging with Wet'suwet'en house groups, neighbouring Nations, local governments, stakeholders and the public.

This is an important step forward in rebuilding our government-to-government-to-government relationships based on the affirmation of rights, respect, cooperation and partnership.

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SOURCE Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC)