The Nanwakolas Council is pleased to announce the signing of the Nanwakolas Council Reconciliation Protocol between Nanwakolas, five of its member First Nations and the Province of British Columbia.
The First Nation parties to the Reconciliation Protocol are the Mamalilikulla-Qwe’Qwa’Sot’Em, Tlowitsis, Da’naxda’xw, Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw and K’omoks First Nations.
The Reconciliation Protocol will help the five First Nations develop their economy through opportunities in forestry, tourism and clean energy. Additionally, revenue-sharing for tourism, mines and clean-power projects that may be developed will be discussed. Carbon-offset sharing opportunities will be implemented in respect of the South Central Coast portion of the First Nations’ territories, and economic opportunities in tourism will be provided to the First Nations.
Through the Reconciliation Protocol the five First Nations access to 52,993 cubic metres of timber per year in various replaceable licences and 39, 457 cubic metres per year in five-year, non-replaceable licences. The Protocol also commits the First Nations and Province to reach agreement on a model for joint-decision making on strategic forest management issues and enhanced forestry revenue-sharing and increased amounts of forest tenure, which will provide stability and certainty for all forestry operators in the area.
The Reconciliation Protocol also focuses on strengthening First Nation community prosperity and social development. The First Nations will identify their social priorities and then collaborate with the Province to determine programs and services that will help them achieve their human well-being objectives.