B.C. treaty commissioners appointed

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The long-awaited British Columbia Treaty Commission has finally been established.

The commission, whose members were appointed by the federal and provincial governments and the First Nations Summit, will oversee and monitor land claim settlements for B.C. First Nations.

Chuck Connaghan, an experienced industrial relations professional and former chairman of the B.C. Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy, is Chief Commissioner.

Commissioners Carole Corcoran and Doug Kelly were appointed by the First Nations Summit. The other two members include federal nominee Lorne Greenaway and provincial nominee Barbara Fisher.

The five member-board will operate independently of the federal and provincial government and the B.C. First Nations Summit in the negotiations process.

"Resolving land claims is a challenge we have to deal with for the sake of the province and the sake of future generations," Connaghan said. "There is nothing simple or straightforward about treaty negotiations. We, as commissioners, will have to be sensitive to the needs of all British Columbians."

Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon welcomed the appointments as a step towards a stable future for B.C. Aboriginals.

There are at least 20 major claims in B.C. on which Ottawa is seeking a cost-sharing agreement with the province.