Treaty Negotiations
Openness Protocol

Openness sets the tone for negotiations

To ensure that the treaty process is as open as possible the Cariboo Tribal Council (CTC), Canada and British Columbia have developed an openness protocol which provides guidelines for public access to the main table and the documents generated during the negotiations. It also describes the parties responsibilities for consultation and public information.

The general rule is that treaty negotiations with CTC will be open to the public unless all three parties agree otherwise. At the end of each meeting, a record of decisions will be made public and the media will be briefed.

Discussion papers, reports and any other documents exchanged among the parties at the main table sessions are considered public documents.

Governments are required to consult with local communities to ensure that their interests are considered during the negotiations. Regional Advisory Committees (RACs), representing a cross section of community interests, are being set up around the province. They have regular information meetings with the negotiators in order to provide input on items under negotiation.

Work is underway to establish a Cariboo RAC. Starting in May 1995, federal and provincial negotiators met with Cariboo residents in Quesnel, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House to jointly determine how best to carry out the consultation. Last September, local residents agreed to work together to develop an approach and present this to government. RACs complement the 31-member Treaty Negotiation Advisory Committee (TNAC) established by Canada and B.C. to advise governments on broad province-wide treaty issues.

The Cariboo Tribal Council together with Canada and B.C. formed a public information working group consisting of a representative of each party. The group is responsible for planning and organizing events and activities for communities within the traditional territory. In the past year, the committee organized open houses in Williams Lake and 100 Mile House. A major forum on treaty negotiations, attended by 250 people, was held in Williams Lake. Future activities may include more open houses and forums, workshops, meetings with community groups, resource centres in public libraries and information through the media.

Cariboo Tribal Council, Mary Thomas or Agness Jack at 250-392-7361 or Fax 250-392-6158.

Federal Treaty Office, Jonathan Raynor at 1-800-665-9320 or fax 1-250-775-7149.

Province of British Columbia, Aboriginal Affairs Branch, Alice Funke at 1-800-880-1022.