How treaty-negotiations work

At the start of modern-day treaty negotiations in British Columbia about 15 years ago, First Nations joined with the federal and provincial governments to work out a common set of "rules" for the negotiations.

Those rules divided the treaty process into six distinct stages. ('Namgis are currently in the fourth stage.) The three negotiating partners also set up a joint organization called the BC Treaty Commission to assist all parties at the negotiating table in staying true to the process.

As of January 2008, 58 BC First Nations are participating in the treaty process overseen by the Treaty Commission. Because some First Nations negotiate at a common table, these 58 First Nations are involved in 48 separate sets of negotiations.