After 15 years and $10 million in borrowed funds, Tla’Amin (Sliammon) First Nation treaty is now ready to be initialled by the band, the province and the federal government and be taken to a vote by the Tla’Amin community.
Waiting for the federal government to conduct its internal review took over a year and caused a lot of frustration for those who have put so much time and effort into this treaty. There had been threats to take the feds to court if they did not come to a decision. Whether or not those threats had anything to do with the announcement made last week is impossible to say.
The point though, and what those who are involved in the process are focusing on, is that the next step is now ready to be taken. This is cause for celebration. Whether or not the Tla’Amin community members ultimately decide they are ready for a treaty or not remains to be seen, but at least now they will have the opportunity to make that decision.
