Maa-nulth Treaty

The treaty is a clear recognition of our rights and title. The treaty has taken our undefined rights and turned them into defined treaty rights.

Our people have lived since time immemorial on the 
west coast of Vancouver Island. We are one of the nuučaan̓uł (Nuu-chah-nulth) nations whose historical connection to our lands and right to self-determination and self-government has been enshrined in modern law. The Uchucklesaht Tribe is one of the five First Nations that negotiated and entered into the Maa‑nulth Treaty along with the  t̓uk̓ʷaaʔatḥ (Toquaht Nation), Huu-ay-aht First Nations, Ka:’yu:’k’t’h’/Che:k’tles7et’h First Nation, and Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ (Ucluelet First Nation).

Treaty Overview

On December 9, 2006, Premier Gordon Campbell, the Honorable Jim Prentice, the Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, and the five chiefs representing the Maa-nulth First Nations on Vancouver Island witnessed the joint initialing of the third and final agreement reached under the British Columbia Treaty Process.

In a vote held on June 16, 2007, the Uchucklesaht Tribe approved the constitution that had been drafted by their community. In votes held in October 2007, all of the Maa-nulth Nations voted in favor of the Maa-nulth Final Agreement, and British Columbia and Canada ratified the agreement shortly afterwards.

On November 21, 2007, the Maa-nulth Final Agreement Act (Bill 45) was introduced into the Provincial Legislature. The Treaty took effect on April 1, 2011.

The Maa-nulth Treaty recognizes a broad range of rights and interests for the Maa-nulth First Nations, including land rights, harvesting rights, cultural rights, and various law-making authorities. While all five Maa-nulth Nations are part of the broader Nuu chah nulth linguistic group, each Nation has its own distinct history, customs, traditions, and dialects.

The Treaty affirms each Maa-nulth First Nation as an independent, self-governing Modern Treaty Nation. Each Nation governs its own treaty lands and determines how programs and services are delivered to its citizens.

Through this Treaty, the Maa-nulth First Nations have reclaimed self-governance and are exercising their inherent rights. It is a living Treaty, one that must be honoured and evolve over time to reflect new circumstances.