A seat at the table: Exploring treaty First Nation representation in a regional district

• Main Author: Garnett, Alison
• Other Authors: Hemphill, Jessie
• Format: Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Electronic version published by Vancouver Island University 2022
• Subjects: Local government > British Columbia > Vancouver Island; Indigenous peoples > Government relations; Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District; Maa-nulth First Nations; Toquaht Nation; Huu-ay-aht First Nations; Uchucklesaht Tribe; Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government; First Nations
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.25316/IR-17505; https://viurrspace.ca/handle/10613/25732

In 2011, the Maa-nulth First Nations Final Agreement became the first modern treaty on Vancouver Island, British Columbia (BC). As part of the treaty agreement, the Maa-nulth First Nations—which include Toquaht Nation, Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Uchucklesaht Tribe and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Government—agreed to join the Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District (ACRD), thus creating a co-governance relationship unparalleled in BC. This research explores the potential for regional districts as a form of co-governance between local governments and First Nations with modern treaty. Guided by Indigenous Research Methodologies (IRM), three of the Maa-nulth First Nations representatives were interviewed in this research project to understand the transition to ACRD membership and dis/advantages of regional district participation. The research found that the co-governance relationship on the ACRD Board since the Maa-nulth First Nations joined has positively impacted regional governance and found overall that regional districts are a viable form of co-governance for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. https://viurrspace.ca/bitstream/handle/10613/25732/GarnettThesis.pdf?sequence=3 Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Community Planning in the Department of Community Planning, Faculty of Social Sciences, Vancouver Island University.