Canada, British Columbia and Indigenous nations have signed four comprehensive land claim agreements with eight Indigenous nations along the coast of BC (Nisga’a Final Agreement, Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement, Maa-Nulth First Nations Final Agreement and the Tla’amin Final Agreement). The eight Indigenous nations are all members of the Land Claims Agreement Coalition (LCAC) and seven (excluding the Nisga’a Lisms Government) have formed the Alliance of British Columbia Modern Treaty Nations (ABCMTN). For each of these nations, Pacific salmon and other coastal fish and seafood are a foundation around which their communities, culture and way of life are centred. The treaties, and associated side agreements, address the right of these nations and their citizens to harvest fish.

The LCAC and its academic partner, Carleton University have been approved for a five-year SSHRC research grant. The purpose of the grant is to examine questions such as: how do federal approaches to financing impact treaty implementation? What are the implications of treaty provisions for financing agreement negotiations? Have previous negotiations of financing agreements (e.g., Yukon) resulted in financing changes? How do policies on revenue sharing, including the offset of transfers from other levels of government affect financing and the ability to exercise recognized jurisdiction? How do taxation provisions and tax sharing policies impact financing and revenue generation? 

We invite proposals for research projects for the following:

An environmental scan of fish related provisions, agreements, implementation commitments and related implementation parties i.e. government departments and branches, agencies etc., including areas of commonality/divergence and gaps in existing implementation provisions. What are the existing fiscal models supporting these activities?

Fisheries treaty funding:

What are the primary activities and functions related to the exercise of fishery related treaty rights, including management and preservation of the right for future generations? 

What are the fiscal implications?

How do external factors influence these fiscal implications? 

How do existing fiscal arrangements support these activities?

Do fiscal models or best practices exist to support Indigenous fisheries management?

What factors/best practices can/should be incorporated into a modern treaty fishery management fiscal model?

Proposal Submission

Please consult the guidelines and application template for proposal submission (click here). Proposal deadline: February 28, 2020. Please submit Jessica Simpson at: Jessicasimpson@tlicho.com.