The federal government will recognize the Aboriginal title on the archipelago of Haida Gwaii Off the north coast of British Columbia in a historic agreement with Haida First Nation.
The Minister of Relations with Crowns, Gary Anandasangaree, says that it is the first time that the federal government has recognized the Aboriginal title through negotiations.
He says in an interview that it is an “extremely significant” achievement that will reset the relationship in a “very significant” way.
The Big Tide Haida title agreement affirms that Haida have the Aboriginal title on all land of the islands, beds of fresh water organisms and anti-rings at the Lower Brand.
The Transitions Agreement The lands of the Crown to the Haida people, granting them a legal right inherent in the earth. The transfer of the underlying title would affect the way in which the courts interpret the questions involving disputes.
Anandasangaree says that this will launch a five -year transition period and require legislation to eliminate all individual details on how this will apply in practice.
Ottawa says it will work “respectfully and cooperative” with the Haida nation on questions relating to Haida Gwaii.
He says that the two governments have agreed that the change will be “ordered and progressive” to ensure stability for residents and other holders of interest.
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The agreement follows similar recognition by the British Columbia Government last year.
It resolves a four decades that started with a logging blockade and has become an intensely combat legal battle.
The agreement comes more than two decades after the Haida Nation Council launched a legal challenge against Canada and the province, requesting an indigenous title declaration.
The ministry says that the three parties have been negotiating since 2021 to “gradually negotiate” questions that should otherwise be disputed.
He indicates that Canada provided $ 59 million in Haida in an “advanced capital transfer” to stimulate the country’s “strengthening of governance”.
About 15% of Haida Gwaii is owned, managed or used by the federal government, including a national park and a Haida heritage site.
More than a hundred two percent belong to other parts.
The government claims that the title agreement between the Haida First Nation and British Columbia was struck last April.
Haida Nation president Jason Alsop called the new British Columbia law “not towards peaceful coexistence” with the province.
He said in April that the nation planned to take control of the Haida Gwaii economy according to its values and traditions, adopting a sustainable approach rather than the operator of the land and the sea.
The Conservative Party of the Provincial Opposition of British Columbia criticized the agreement, claiming that it puts private landowners “at the mercy of Haida (and) future Haida indigenous law”.
But the Council of First Nations Directorate in British Columbia said that the agreement does not affect private property rights.
Anandasangaree rejected concerns about impacts on landowners as a “a lot of noise”.
“One of the key elements of this agreement is that the private title will in no case be affected,” he said. “Your ability to obtain a mortgage or a capacity to obtain the cluttered property for construction for having put a privilege – all this will continue.”
The Federal Haida Recognition Act was adopted last year.
The ministry affirms that the lands of Haida owned as reservations under Indian law will remain under the federal jurisdiction until the Council of Haida, the old village of Massett and the bands and the members of Skidegate are launching negotiations .
This Canadian press report was published for the first time on February 17, 2025.
– With Kyle Duggan files in Ottawa.
& Copy 2025 the Canadian press