What's An AIP?

AIP stands for Agreement in Principle. Groups in negotiations with each other use this kind of legal documenting process to negotiate what they are willing to agree to in a final settlement.

All treaty negotiations in B.C. include an Agreement in Principle (AIP) in stage four of the process. During this phase, the governments and the First Nation present proposals and counter offers to each other on what they would specifically like in their final agreement. An AIP is a way to negotiate the detailed content of a treaty, such as: rights and obligations of all parties; interests and access to lands, seas, and resources; organization and powers of government; laws; dispute resolution; fiscal relations and finances; etc.

The goal of the AIP phase is to help everyone reach satisfaction on all the elements of a final treaty. An AIP is a working draft of a final agreement and also sets out guidelines for how a new treaty will be implemented. This process is monitored by the B.C. Treaty Commission and when an AIP is signed, the negotiations move forward to stage five of the treaty process, the negotiations to finalize a treaty by resolving the remaining technical and legal issues.

'Namgis is currently in stage four of negotiations with B.C. and Canada. Our AIP with the federal and provincial governments is still being discussed and created. It will outline all the key points of agreement between our people and the federal and provincial governments that would be included in a treaty.

'Namgis members can ask to see a draft of our AIP at the Band Office in Alert Bay or at any of the community meetings. Our AIP is a working draft of what a final treaty with B.C. and Canada would look like, so comments and feedback from all of our community is very important to make sure it reflects what we want.