Historic settlement agreement approved by St’át’imc members paves a new future backed by solidarity and determination

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 26, 2011

ST’ÁT’IMC TERRITORY, BC: The historic agreement reached by the St’át’imc and BC Hydro to resolve outstanding grievances related to BC Hydro’s facilities and operations within St’át’imc traditional territory that was recently approved by St’át’imc members shows what solidarity and determination can achieve. Negotiated over 18 years by all chiefs representing the nation’s 11 communities, the settlement is intended to rectify the past and pave a path towards a new future for all members. It also marks a number of firsts in such negotiations. “We’re proud of what we achieved for our people. This agreement is about more than money. It’s about our people, our land, our integrity and determination as St’át’imc people, and our future,” says Kūkwpi7 Mike Leach, St’át’imc Chief Negotiator. “We took a unified approach to negotiations to protect our territory and ensure each community was compensated for the losses it has suffered as a result of BC Hydro’s activities in our territory.”

The St’át’imc Hydro Agreement includes a number of separate agreements that cover all past, present and future impacts, grievances and claims of the St’át’imc (pronounced “stat-lee-um” and formerly the Lillooet Tribe) related to the planning, placement, construction and ongoing operation of existing BC Hydro facilities within St’át’imc territory. BC Hydro, formerly BC Electric, has been active in St’át’imc territory since 1912. Damage caused by BC Hydro facilities and infrastructure included flooding fertile and delicate river valleys; it destroyed salmon runs and led to the loss of cultural sites as well as loss and damage of land.

The settlement agreement includes environmental plans to restore land, water, fish, wildlife and vegetation and an archaeological management plan to preserve and protect cultural sites. It provides financial benefits and economic opportunities as well as education and training, and contract and career opportunities to help build capacity within St’át’imc communities. The St’át’imc also achieved a relations agreement that includes the nation in future decision making in the territory.

“We wanted unity as a nation, and I think these are the stepping stones that will get us there,” says Chief Arthur R Thevarge, N’Quátqua.

The nation also secured several firsts, such as a change to BC Hydro operations to protect salmon during the critical spawning and migrating season. As well, southern St’át’imc communities were recently connected to the BC Hydro power grid, receiving electricity for the first time in their history.

“Electrical power is a basic necessity most people in the province take for granted. Electricity will have a hugely positive impact on the lives of our people, moving us away from diesel generation and bringing our community into the 21st century,” says Chief Don Harris, Xa’xsta7.

“Our foremost goal was ensuring our rights and title on the land was recognized and that our land is protected for current and future generations. The agreement achieves that and establishes how BC Hydro will behave on our land,” Chief Clifford Alec, Ts’kw’aylaxw. “I think once community members started realizing there was more to the agreement than the money, that it was about the future and our kids, they started to take a different perspective.”

On April 9, more than 2,000 St’át’imc members exercised their right to vote, with 72 percent voting in favour of accepting the agreements.

“The approval of the agreement by our people opens the door to a future of opportunity and benefits for our communities, and I commend their decision to take that step. It’s a small measure of justice 100 years in the making,” says Chief Garry John, Tsal’álh. “No longer will be we the poorest people in our own country – something our people have been fighting to achieve for a century. I’m looking forward to a positive future for our generations to come.”

The St’át’imc chiefs now look forward to implementing the agreement and seeing the benefits flow to all St’át’imc. A signing ceremony will be held May 10, 2011 in Tsal’álh (Seton Lake) to celebrate the signing of the Final Agreement and the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe.

“On May 10 we will celebrate what our forefathers fought for, on our terms. We will be recognized as rightful owners in our own homeland and we will rebuild our nation,” says Chief Art Adolph, Xaxl’íp. “We achieved the agreement together, we approved it together and now we will implement it together, backed by trust, accountability, transparency and unity.”

For more information about the communities and the agreement, visit http://www.statimchydro.ca/home

– 30 –

For more information and to arrange for interviews, please contact:
Deena Tokaryk
Cell: 778-990-9545 | Email: dtokaryk[at]prassociates.com

About the St’át’imc

The St’át’imc (pronounced “stat-lee-um”) are a nation of 11 communities located in the southern interior of BC: Xwísten (Bridge River), Ts’kw’aylacw (Pavilion), Sekw’el’was (Cayoose Creek), Lil’wat (Mt. Currie), Tsal’álh (Seton Lake), T’it’q’et (Lillooet), Xaxl’ip (Fountain), N’quatqua (Anderson Lake), Xa’xtsa7 (Port Douglas), Skatin (Skookumchuck ) and Samahquam (Baptiste). St’át’imc territory extends north to Churn Creek and south to French Bar; northwest to the headwaters of Bridge River; north and east toward Hat Creek Valley; east to the Big Slide; south to the island on Harrison Lake and west of the Fraser River to the headwaters of Lillooet River, Ryan River and Black Tusk.

————

Backgrounder

About the St’át’imc

The St’át’imc (pronounced “stat-lee-um”) are a nation of 11 communities located in the southern interior of BC: Xwísten (Bridge River), Ts’kw’aylacw (Pavilion), Sekw’el’was (Cayoose Creek), Lil’wat (Mt. Currie), Tsal’álh (Seton Lake), T’it’q’et (Lillooet), Xaxl’ip (Fountain), N’quatqua (Anderson Lake), Xa’xtsa7 (Port Douglas), Skatin (Skookumchuck ) and Samahquam (Baptiste). St’át’imc territory extends north to Churn Creek and south to French Bar; northwest to the headwaters of Bridge River; north and east toward Hat Creek Valley; east to the Big Slide; south to the island on Harrison Lake and west of the Fraser River to the headwaters of Lillooet River, Ryan River and Black Tusk. The St’át’imc (formerly the Lillooet Tribe) nation comprises more than 6,000 members living across BC and in Washington state.

About the St’át’imc Hydro Agreement

The St’át’imc Hydro Agreement resolves outstanding grievances related to BC Hydro’s generation, transmission and distribution facilities and operations within St’át’imc traditional territory. The agreement includes a number of separate agreements that cover all past, present and future impacts, grievances and claims of the St’át’imc related to the planning, placement, construction and ongoing operation of existing BC Hydro facilities within St’át’imc territory.

In addition to financial benefits and economic opportunities, the agreement includes:
§ Environmental plans to help restore land, water, fish, wildlife and vegetation;
§ An archaeological management plan to preserve and protect cultural sites;
§ A relations agreement to foster relations and define how BC Hydro must deal with and consult the St’át’imc in the future; and
§ An education and training component to build capacity within St’át’imc communities.

Historical background

BC Hydro, formerly BC Electric, has been active in St’át’imc territory since 1912. Developments were made on St’át’imc territory without consultation. The damage to St’át’imc caused by construction of BC Hydro facilities and infrastructure included flooding fertile and delicate river valleys; it destroyed salmon runs and lead to the loss of cultural sites and loss and damage of land. Eleven St’át’imc communities have been impacted by BC Hydro’s facilities through infrastructure including three dams, two reservoirs, four generating stations, 25 transmission circuits totalling approximately 850 kilometres of transmission line, 160 kilometres of access roads and four recreation facilities.

About the negotiations

After 18 years of negotiations, the St’át’imc and BC Hydro reached an agreement to resolve outstanding grievances related to BC Hydro’s generation, transmission and distribution facilities and operations within St’át’imc traditional territory. Beginning in 1993, the St’át’imc and BC Hydro began the challenging task of identifying and discussing the numerous impacts and infringements caused by BC Hydro and BC Electric. A significant protocol agreement was signed on November 1, 1993 that committed BC Hydro to cover all the costs of negotiation. An agreement in principle was reached and was initialled on December 17, 2010.

Significance of the agreement

The agreement was reached after almost two decades of negotiation, demonstrating a dedicated and collective approach by the Nation. Chiefs from all 11 St’át’imc communities within the nation participated in discussions with negotiators and representatives from BC Hydro and the BC government. The chiefs took a united and collective approach to ensure each community receives benefits and compensation for specific impacts it endured, in addition to the entire Nation. The settlement includes multiple agreements; in addition to the over-all Nation Agreement, each community negotiated its own separate agreement with BC Hydro.

It marks several firsts of such negotiations, such as a change to BC Hydro operations to protect salmon during the critical spawning and migrating season. As well, southern St’át’imc communities were recently connected to the BC Hydro power grid, receiving electricity for the first time in their history. The St’át’imc also achieved a relations agreement that includes the nation in future decision making in the territory, recognizing St’át’imc title and rights to the land.

About the vote

All St’át’imc were given the opportunity to read the complete agreements and to decide through a vote whether to approve it. Information sessions were held with members in St’át’imc communities, and in the Lower Mainland, Prince George, Victoria and Washington state to help them understand the agreements and what it means for them and their community. On April 9, more than 2,000 St’át’imc members exercised their right to vote, representing 46 percent of all the eligible voters in all the communities, with 72 percent voting in favour the agreements. A signing ceremony will be held May 10, 2011 in Tsal’álh (Seton Lake) to celebrate the signing of the Final Agreement and the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe.

Chiefs of the St’át’imc

St’át’imc Chiefs of Council – Chair, Mike Leach
Xwísten – Chief Bradley Jack
Ts’kw’aylacw – Chief Clifford Alec
Sekw’el’was – Chief Perry Redan
Lil’wat – Chief Lucinda Phillips
Tsal’álh – Chief Garry John
T’it’q’et – Tribal Chief Shelley Leech & Community Chief Kevin Whitney
Xaxl’ip – Chief Art Adolph
N’Quatqua – Chief Arthur R Thevarge
Xa’xtsa7 – Chief Don Harris
Skatin – Chief Pat Williams
Samaquam – Chief Brenda Lester

For more information about the communities and the agreement, visit http://www.statimchydro.ca/home