The signing coincided with the BC First Nations Mining Summit, which was co-hosted by the Kaska Nation and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council along with the Taku River Tlingit First Nation, the Tahltan Nation and the BC First Nations Leadership Council.
Carrier-Sekani Tribal Chief Luggi stated:” This Treaty is an important means of expressing our solidarity with each other as neighbours and commits us to work together to protect our collective aboriginal title and rights.”
Leaders of the Kaska and Carrier Sekani held four days of discussions in September 2007 regarding their common interests and shared important social time together in Kaska traditional territory of Dechenla near the Yukon-NWT border north of Ross River.
“Two distinct Nations shared the land that is still intact with all its beauty and richness, said Dave Porter, Kaska Dena chief negotiator. “We traveled together in the mountains and talked about the importance of the land and its resources to our people. Kaska and Carrier-Sekani appreciate the magnificence of Dechenla and we feasted on the bounty that this special part of our territory offers with traditional food that exemplifies the ability of the land to sustain its people.
“One year later we are very pleased to be signing this important Treaty and to welcome our neighbours the Tsay Keh Dene as fellow signatories.”
In the year since Dechenla, the Kaska and the CSTC have also signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Canadian Boreal Initiative – a dynamic Ottawa based conservation NGO – committing the parties to work in partnership to protect and conserve the northern forests.
“Climate change and resource development are impacting the Boreal forest in major ways,” said Hammond Dick, Kaska Tribal Chief. “We need to act now and help educate all Canadians about the critical value of the Boreal Forest, not just for our wildlife but also for our own very ability to breathe clean air,”
Work to develop the Treaty between the Kaska and Carrier-Sekani Nations was inspired by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Grand Chief Edward John, of the First Nations Summit’s Political Executive, said: “The Kaska, the Tsay Keh Dene and my own Carrier Sekani Tribal Council leadership are living the spirit and intent of the UN Declaration by signing a Nation-to-Nation Treaty that commits us to work in collaboration to protect the land and ensure the continuation of the Dene culture.”
Kaska, Carrier-Sekani and Tsay Keh Dene Leaders plan to meet once a year to review commitments arising from the Treaty, to initiate collaborative efforts where required to protect their lands, resources, cultures and languages and, as neighbours, to strengthen their historic ties of culture, friendship and kinship.
“Signing this Treaty with our neighbours today at the BC First Nations Mining Summit should be an important signal to governments and industry of our determination to work together and present a strong unified voice when it comes to protecting our interests in this part of the world,” said Tsay Keh Dene First Nation Chief Pierre.
For further information contact:
Kaska Nation:
Dave Porter
Cell # 778 772-8542
Tsay Keh Dene:
Colleen Weibe
Off # 250 562-8882
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council:
Paul Blom
Cell # 250 613-7949