beclassitied.com -- www.wltribune.com "BY SAGE. ‘BIRCHWATER Tribune Staff Writer ‘Treaty fiegotiations in the is: who actually oivns the land. "BC feels’ they ‘own the land; we want the recogni fion ‘that we own i” says Cariboo Tribal Council chief negotiator Robert. Phillips “The language of the treaty reeds to reconcile these op- posing views of land owner- ship.” Phillips says the Northern Secwepeme te Qelmucw (NSIQ),. comprised of the four nations making up the Cariboo Tribal Coun: cil, Trexele (Sugar Cane), Stswecem'e/Xgat'tem (Canoe/Dog, Creek), “Toq’escen (Canim Lake) and Xits'ull(Cmetem’ Soda Deep Creek), believes: the Key to solving nétive tand claims requires: thi fe the box. je Said Tast June, NSIQ's Yands negotiator, Elizabeth Pele, asked the thiee-par- ties at the negotiating table, Canada, BC and the NSIQ, to come up with creative op- tions to several outstanding {issues in the land negotia- tions, in an attempt to move forward. Robert Phillips. But he says instead of providing creative options, Canada and B.C. firmly stayed put and held fast to their entrenched positions “They're asking us to leap into their structure of land ownership without offering protection for aboriginal title,” says Philips. “BC and Canada. missed the point of the exercise. They metely quoted” the standard patty line." He insists that creative options forthe way in which lands ore, negotiated is the only. way the parties are go- VOL. 74 NO, 81 TUESDAY OCTOBER 12, 2000 Treaties talks held up ing to come up with a far seillemeit “The NSIQ provided 25 creative options that ad- dressed all sides of several contentious. issues. We're trying, to push the creativity approach. We're challenging ‘ourselves to siep outside the box too." He says the Canada and [BC position is that Sections 91 and 92 of the Canada Land Act are the only ac- cenlable motels for land ownership tenure, Section 91 defines federal Jands and Section 92 defines provincial fands Phillips. suid the NSIQ wants to utilize Section 35 ‘which ineludes aboriginal rights and tite inthe mix "It spells out the First Nations relationship to the land. Aboriginal title needs tobe recognizéd” He says the NStQ position is consistent with rulings by the Supreme Court of Cana da, “that aboriginal tile is a burden on the Crown.” “Land tenures. in place would, probably remain,” says Phillips “There'd just be a differ cent landlord. Private prop, erty is not on the table.” He says the NStQ is not coming from a sovere perspective. “We're looking.’ at a partnership with BC and Canada “We're trying to be parte ners in the community al live ip. Reconciliation is the utmost importance to cour people. We're trying to negotiate these setiements inthe most professional way possible.” On a personal note, Phil lips says he wants to be known asa finisher, “Ws got to that point tn time, wvant to get this thing dene and come .up with something that is good for the NSIQ and good for the pedple of the Cariboo as wall ‘One example of @ creative option proposed by : the NStQ, isto settle the treaty with: existing lands avail. able, then purchasing ad- ditional lands as it becomes available. “This would be on a will ing. buyer, willing seller basis,” says Phillips, noting there would be @ cap on the amount of money avail- able to purchase additional lands. He says the NSIQ has © 2 lot of research “We'te finally ‘selecting the Jand we teally want ard .we're putting it on the table. We're making sure every- thing ison the table.” ac