Thirty six First Nations have traditional territories located within the geographical area of the South Island Forest District (SIFD). Four treaty associations and two tribal council represent all but three of the First Nations. (contact information)

First Nations consultation related links:

• First Nations Consultation and Policies (web site)
  • Aboriginal Rights and Title Policy (pdf)
  • MoFR Consultation Guidelines (pdf)
• SIFD Objectives Matrix Cultural Heritage section refers to the objectives set by government under FRPA for cultural heritage resources not regulated in the Heritage Conservation Act.
• SIFD District Manager's letter to all First Nations dated: October 12, 2004 (pdf) The letter outlines the expectations for First Nations consultation under FRPA.
• Guidelines for Managing Cedar for Cultural Purposes are intended to assist forest planning in the Coast Forest Region and the SIFD in regard to First Nation's access to cedar. (TSA cedar maps also available)
• FRPA Bulletins: Administration / First Nations Information Sharing:
  • Forest Stewardship Planning: First Nations Information Sharing  - Bulletin June 10, 2005 (pdf) The purpose of this Bulletin is to provide guidance regarding the shared industry and Ministry of Forests and Range tasks and obligations with respect to the forest stewardship planning process as it relates to First Nations consultation requirements.
  • First Nations Information Sharing  - Memorandum June 23, 2005 (pdf) The Bulletin recognizes the importance of the participation of First Nations groups in the consultation process to provide information about aboriginal interests, treaty rights and proven aboriginal rights.
  • The New Relationship web site: the provincial government and B.C. First Nations’ organizations are working together to develop a new relationship (download document) founded on reconciliation, recognition and respect of Aboriginal rights and title.
• First Nations FRA, IMA, IMEA, Direct Award: Forest and Range Agreements (FRA), Interim Measures Agreements (IMA), Interim Measures Extension Agreements (IMEA) and direct awards already signed
  • Forest and Range Agreements (FRA) FAQ frequently asked questions and answers related to FRA agreements
  • Managing Your New Timber Tenure: an administrative guide for First Nations and other BC communities who have been invited (or would like to apply for FRA) under the forest revitalization initiative
• Guide to Using Traditional Use Study Information (pdf)
• Traditional Use Study Program Information (CFR web site)
  • This site has only general information and is available to government users only!
  • First Nations who have completed traditional use studies hold the detailed information regarding traditional use sites and values identified within their asserted traditional territories. Licensees preparing FSP's should contact First Nations directly regarding access to this information for the purposes of developing results and strategies for cultural heritage resources.
  • TUS information continues to be important and where this information exists is considered by decision-makers when making statutory decisions.
• List of Cultural Heritage Information and Traditional Use Studies for the SIFD area available on the internal web site for government users only!
• Archaeological Data Request Form BC Archaeological database
• First Nations Profiles from the BC FN web site
• First Nations Profiles from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation web site

Other First Nations related useful links:

• Ministry of Forests and Range Aboriginal Affairs Branch: provides leadership in coordination and developing policies, initiatives and support to First Nations' issues as they pertain to forest management
• British Columbia First Nations: on-line community: band profiles, events, employment, bulletins
• BC Treaty Commission: is the independent and neutral body responsible for facilitating treaty negotiations among the governments of Canada , BC and First Nations in BC. The Treaty Commission does not negotiate treaties—that is done by the three parties at each negotiation table.
• BC Assembly of First Nations (web site)
• BC Union of Indian Chiefs: UBCIC's mission is to improve intertribal relationships through common strategies to protect Aboriginal Title
• BC First Nations Summit: represents the interests of First Nations working to negotiate treaties throughout the province of British Columbia
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada the BC Region is also involved in treaty negotiations with many BC First Nations, while also providing, tools, resources and services to First Nations in a variety of areas
• The Assembly of First Nations Canada: AFN is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada
• Aboriginal Canada Portal (web site)
• Congress of Aboriginal People, CAP online is to provide you with information you are unlikely to find anywhere else about Aboriginal peoples across Canada
• Aboriginal Festivals and Events, web site managed by the Aboriginal Multi-media Society
• Aboriginal Links, a comprehensive list of First Nations related links

SOUTH ISLAND FIRST NATIONS CONTACT INFORMATION / PROFILES / MAPS:

Asserted Traditional Territory or Statement of Intent Maps:

Important note: the maps listed on the site are not intended to create, recognize, limit, or deny any aboriginal right, including title, that First Nations may have or impose any obligations on the Province of British Columbia, the Ministry of Forests and Range or alter the legal status, or resources within the Province or existing legal authority of BC. First Nations update and modify periodically their asserted traditional territory boundaries, and although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, currency, and reliability of the content, Ministry of Forests and Range accepts not responsibility in that regard.
First Nations who whish to update their asserted traditional territory maps listed on this site, please contact the SIFD office

• Download all the individual First Nations Asserted Traditional Territory Maps in pdf format from the OM FTP site.
• Download Shape (*.shp) files with the Individual First Nations Asserted Traditional Territory boundaries. Note: along with each FN *.shp file you will also needs to download the following additional files that form each set: *.dbf; *.prj; *.sbn; *sbx; *shp; *.shx (a total of 6 files). You could preview all the individual shape files or all the district files as an ArcExplorer project if you have ArcExplorer installed on your computer (free viewer can be downloaded from ESRI web site).
• The SIFD Summary Key Map presents the asserted traditional territories of First Nations in the South Island Forest District (click on map below to enlarge):

Samples of First Nations related maps listed on this site:

1. Asserted Traditional Territory maps on a tenures base (sample)	2. Asserted Traditional Territory maps on hill shade base (sample)	3. Statement of Intent Map from TNO office (sample)

Source of First Nation Profiles: *1 from the British Columbia First Nations (BCFN) web site; *2 from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation (MARR) web site; *3 from the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) web site; *4 South Island Forest District office (SIFD, available only internally).
Important note: information in the First Nations profiles and contacts has been provided by the First Nations and/or external sources. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, currency and reliability of the content, Ministry of Forests and Range accepts no responsibility in that regard.

• Notes:
  Some documents on our site are provided in Adobe Acrobat format.
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  Documents which are in Adobe Acrobat format will be annotated either with "pdf" or with this graphic:
• The sign: indicates that information has been added or modified since December 07, 2006
• This page was last updated on December 07, 2006

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