Rights Recognition Info Session
On Tuesday, November 19, Musqueam held a hybrid event to share updates with band members about the Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreement (RRA).
Musqueam has been negotiating federal rights recognition since 2017. We recently reached a major milestone with the completion of phase one of negotiations. The team was excited to share unique elements of the agreement that enable incremental implementation of our ancestral rights.
Although it was stormy outside, resulting in an internet outage and flickering presentation screen, the session was a great success.
There were close to 50 band members who joined the session, either in person in the Cultural Centre or online via Zoom. We heard great questions and feedback throughout the session, and overall had a very informative evening.
Read this post for a recap of the information session, what rights recognition means for Musqueam, and what we have been negotiating with the federal government.
Rights Recognition Negotiations
As the first peoples of this land, Musqueam holds special rights over our territory.
It is our right to live on, and travel throughout, our lands, air and waters without control or restriction, and to use and benefit from the resources of our territory. It is Musqueam’s responsibility to make decisions, educate and enforce what is best for our lands and waterways.
In 2017, as directed by membership, Musqueam signed two memoranda of understanding with Canada to explore how to recognize and implement our rights. These two agreements committed to negotiations and established two main branches of negotiations:
- Rights Recognition
- Self-Government
At the core, Musqueam is negotiating with the federal government to guarantee the continued survival, dignity and well-being of our people – just like our ancestors did before us.
About the Musqueam Rights Recognition Agreement (RRA)
The RRA is a phased agreement that redefines our evolving relationship with Canada. It is a ‘living document’ with several different sections and commitments from the federal government. This agreement is similar to a relationship agreement, like the agreements Musqueam has signed with YVR, BC Hydro and the Port of Vancouver, but with the federal government.
This agreement is not final or forever, and Musqueam is not giving up any rights. Instead, we are working towards confirming and implementing rights over the entirety of Musqueam territory while creating opportunities for updates and renewals in the future.
Each section of the RRA has its own working group that focuses specifically on negotiating that section of the agreement. At the info session, Musqueam’s technical leads for each of the working groups presented new details about the contents of the agreement:
- Wendy Grant-John (Framework)
- Paul Blom (Revenue Sharing)
- John Watson (Stewardship & Marine Management)
- Noel McDonald (Lands)
- Jaime Sanchez (Fisheries)
- Tim Raybould (Self-Government)
Musqueam has always fought for the recognition and protection of our inherent rights.
At the info session, Wendy Grant-John went over Musqueam’s history of resistance to colonial oppression, beginning in 1791 until today, to show how these rights recognition negotiations are a continuation of the work our ancestors have done since settler contact.
How self-government fits in
All Indigenous peoples have the right of self-determination and self-government. This right is constitutionally-protected in Canada, and it means we have the right to control our own administration and government.
To work towards implementing this right, Musqueam is negotiating a self-government agreement alongside, but separately from, the RRA.
The self-government agreement will recognize Musqueam’s lawmaking authority over “Musqueam Lands”, which is currently defined as our reserves. Negotiations are not as far along as the RRA, and because of this, self-government was not discussed in detail at this information session.
What’s next?
The negotiations team looks forward to hosting more information sessions about rights recognition, self-government, and related topics.
Members expressed interest in learning more about Musqueam history, and we are committed to creating new opportunities for members to learn our history and better understand how this agreement fits within our ancestors’ vision for Musqueam’s future.
For more information, please contact Carly Guerin, Self-Government Coordinator, [email protected]
