Seton Lake Band, Governments Resolve Cut-off Claim

For Immediate Release
2007ARR0023-001479
Nov. 16, 2007

Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation

VICTORIA – The Seton Lake Indian Band has voted to ratify an agreement-in-principle to replace parcels cut-off more than 90 years ago from lands allotted to the Band. The agreement, reached between the Band, British Columbia, and Canada, resolves a historic grievance dating back to the McKenna-McBride commission of 1913-1916.

The agreement provides approximately 12.8 hectares (31.6 acres) of land to the Seton Lake Band, as well as $600,000. British Columbia will transfer a parcel of provincial Crown land and Canada will provide the financial component.Eighty per cent of eligible voters who cast ballots approved of the settlement.

The Seton Lake Band is made up of approximately 615 St’at’imc people and eight reserves on the north shore of Seton Lake, near Shalalth, approximately 20 km northwest of Lillooet in the province’s Interior.

The 1913-1916 McKenna-McBride federal-provincial commission recommended that lands could be cut off from the band’s existing lands in B.C. as long as the bands consented. However, lands were cut off from 22 bands without members’ consent.

Two parcels were cut off from Seton Lake Band on the south shore of Lake Seton: the 22-acre Reserve No. 3, and 27-acre Reserve No. 4. The original cut-off lands were subsequently Crown-granted and are no longer available for restoration to the Seton Lake Band.

Seton Lake Band, Canada, and British Columbia began negotiations over the cut-off lands in the 1970s. The agreement leaves only three of the original 22 cut-off claims arising from the McKenna-McBride commission to be resolved.

Through treaties and other agreements with First Nations, the Province is committed to closing the socio-economic gap that separates Aboriginal people from other British Columbians and to building a New Relationship with First Nations based on respect, recognition and reconciliation.

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Media contact:

Deborah Bowman
Communications Director
Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation
250 953-3211
250 213-3489 (cell)