The McKenna
McBride Agreement
When Sir Richard
McBride was appointed premier in
1903, the Province was growing rapidly and the government's economic
plan for growth had little or no regard for First Nations or their
land. Upset with the state of the Indian land policy in the province,
First Nations delegates took their concerns to McBride. When they were
dismissed by the Provincial government the delegates took their
concerns to the Dominion government. Sir Robert Borden's Conservative
Dominion government response to the delegation was that they were also
growing increasingly frustrated with British Columbia's Indian policy.
The Dominion government, seeking a final solution to the dispute,
proposed the creation of a joint Dominion-Provincial commission to
resolve British Columbia's Indian land policy issues.
In
1911, Dr. J. A. J. McKenna was appointed special commissioner by the
Dominion government to negotiate with the Provincial government. To
appease the Provincial government, the issue of Aboriginal Title was
removed early on from the negotiations. Finally, in September 1912, an
agreement was reached. The McKenna McBride Agreement
laid
down the terms for a joint Dominion-Provincial Royal Commission to
settle the problems of reserve size and reversionary interest.
In
accordance with the Indian
Act,
the Commission had the
authority to increase or reduce reserves with consent from the majority
of the adult males of the affected Band. Any reserve land reductions
were to be subdivided and sold. Profits from the sale were to be
divided equally between the Provincial and Dominion governments. Fifty
percent of the proceeds received by the Dominion government were to be
held in trust for the benefit of British Columbia Indians. The
Agreement also stated that until the final report was published, the
Province would not give or sell any land that the Dominion government
had requested for Indian reserve land. If any part of reserve lands
were required for development purposes, notably transportation
right-of-ways or for Public Works purposes, the Commissioners could
make Interim Reports for which compensation was to be paid to the Band
whose land was cut-off.
«
Prev
Page | Next Page
»
|