Treaty smells fishy to Sto:lo Nation

The Province - Brian Lewis

If the B.C. government thinks that a reportedly imminent signing of a pact with the Yale First Nation will automatically give federal and provincial politicians another photo opportunity and bring aboriginal peace to the upper Fraser Valley, it's mistaken.

At least, Victoria's best-laid treaty plans will certainly sink like an end-of-cycle sockeye if the Sto:lo Tribal Council has input.

This group, which represents eight major bands and about 3,000 members, is far from happy about the pending treaty that involves the two governments and the 145-member Yale First Nation, because it will give the Yale full control of traditional, highly prized lower Fraser Canyon fishing sites.

The Sto:lo oppose the treaty on two fundamental counts. First, they challenge the Yale band's status to sign such a treaty, through an argument and supporting documentation that maintain the Yale are part of the larger Sto:lo First Nation.

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