On January 20th, BC Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Michael de Jong joined Chief Donny Van Somer and members of the Kwadacha First Nation to celebrate the final agreement between the Province of BC, Kwadacha Nation and BC Hydro.
The community celebration, hosted by Kwadacha, proved to be a fantastic opportunity for Minister de Jong to visit remote Fort Ware and receive a first-hand look at the improvements Kwadacha is making in their community, including a tour of Kwadacha’s local home building project. Kwadacha is using resources from the final agreement to improve their community and build facilities and programs for health, education, social welfare and other priorities.
Minister Michael de Jong and Chief Donny Van Somer also joined staff from the Ministry of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation, BC Hydro and members of the Kwadacha Nation in a friendly game of hockey. The ice rink, built by Kwadacha, is one of the first benefits resulting from the final agreement. The final agreement was officially signed in November during an event in Victoria.
The agreement provides an initial payment of approximately $15 million and annual payments of approximately $1.6 million to the Kwadacha First Nation, with future adjustments for inflation. The majority of the initial payment will be used to establish an endowment fund to secure future economic returns. Kwadacha will also establish an advisory committee to hear requests and suggestions from community members on an ongoing basis, so that funds will produce the best community and economic benefits.
“This agreement acknowledges that the construction of the W.A.C. Bennett Dam and Williston Reservoir more than 40 years ago caused significant economic and social problems for the Kwadacha,” said Chris O’Riley, BC Hydro’s senior vice-president of engineering, Aboriginal relations and generation. “At the same time, the agreement enables us to move forward by building a new relationship between the Kwadacha and BC Hydro that is based on mutual understanding, respect and trust.”