Natives in B.C. - Part III: Native Land Claims and Treaties in B.C.

The official logo for the Games is the
Inuit Inukshuk. Native presence permeates
every aspect of the games, including the
prominent official logo.

Chiefs from the four tribes standing behind the Governor General

- Natives in B.C. - Part I: The Vancouver Olympics Ceremonies

- Natives in B.C. - Part II: Native Prominence in the Vancouver Olympics

Land claims are a gargantuan issue in British Columbia. Only fourteen treaties were signed with B.C. natives by the late 19th century. The Fraser Institute (pdf file) attributes this low number in B.C. (compared to other provinces) to the diversity of B.C. native groups and their own conflicts over overlapping borders; natives themselves being unwilling to sign treaties; and changes in British administrations and governments which interrupted the processes. By the early 20th century, B.C. natives were no longer allowed to make land claims or negotiate treaties. Land was nonetheless allocated as reserves for native groups under the Indian Act. The British Columbia Treaty Commission was set up in 1993 to re-establish the treaty negotiation process. To date, 60 groups are participating in this process. In 2000, the Nisga'a is the first group to complete the treaty process.

Four native groups, the Squamish, Musqueam, Lil'wat and Tsleil-Waututh, negotiated with the Vancouver Olympics Organization Committee for increased participation and presence in the Olympics. They claim that some of the Olympics venues and activities fall on their land. Although no formal treaties have been signed by any of the parties, they are more than halfway through the negotiation process to finalize the treaties. But these native groups are not the only ones to make demands on the province and the Olympics.

Others are using the Olympics to voice their grievances about their general economic conditions, and are demanding that the government increase its assistance to their groups. They are protesting that too much money has been allocated to the Olympics at the expense of their well-being, and that Olympic venues adjoining their yet-to-be claimed lands are causing negative (e.g. environmental) effects. The Vancouver Olympics have been marred by such protest groups.