The B.C. government has signed an incremental treaty agreement (ITA) with Nazko First Nation, under which the band will receive more than 275 hectares of Crown land.
Nazko First Nation’s principal community is west of Quesnel on the Nazko River.
The first transfer is of two parcels totalling more than 103 hectares. According to the province, the remaining land transfers “will be based on achieving milestones in treaty and economic development opportunities.”
The province stated that the first 103 hectares includes an industrial site that the First Nation will apply to have rezoned “to take advantage of economic opportunities.” The province added that the land parcels will create jobs and new business in the areas of timber and wood fibre.
The government claims that the deal could see as many as 300 direct and indirect jobs created over a 10-year period.
Nazko First Nation chief Delores Alec welcomed the deal.
“The lands are an important component of our economic development plan,” she said in a news release.
Mary Polak, aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister, hailed the deal as a gain for all British Columbians.
The Naxko Treaty Office entered the B.C. treaty process in November 1994 and is in stage four of a six-stage process, negotiating an agreement in principle.
