Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Musqueam Indian Band
The Musqueam Indian Band and the Government of Canada signed three landmark agreements that recognize Musqueam's Aboriginal rights and strengthen Musqueam's roles in fisheries, stewardship and marine emergency management. These agreements represent a major step forward towards reconciliation and incremental implementation of Musqueam's Aboriginal rights as affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.
- šxʷq̓ʷal̕təl̕tən A Rights Recognition Agreement - Recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights including title within their traditional territory and establishes a framework for incremental implementation of rights and nation-to-nation relations with Canada.
- xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Stewardship & Marine Management Agreement - Establishes bilateral collaborative working groups so that Musqueam knowledge and stewardship practices will guide shared decision-making in this incremental implementation agreement to protect and manage the waters and resources within Musqueam territory.
- xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Fisheries Agreement - Supports Musqueam's and shared decision-making role in collaborative fisheries management within Musqueam territory, and provides implementation funding as well as funding for access, vessels and gear through this incremental implementation agreement.
These agreements will shape the future of our partnership, guided by Musqueam's teachings, values, and stewardship practices. These agreements reflect a true nation-to-nation partnership with Musqueam. They build on Musqueam's long history of advancing recognition of their Aboriginal rights, and follow other recent milestones, such as the Revenue Sharing Agreement and the initialing of the Musqueam Self-Government Agreement. They honour Canada's commitments to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and strengthen the relationship between Musqueam and Canada based on collaboration and mutual respect. These agreements exemplify reconciliation in action, as-together-we build a stronger, more resilient Canada.
