Reconciling the past, building a new future

The first urban treaty in the history of British Columbia and the first modern treaty negotiated under the B.C. Treaty Commission process - the Tsawwassen First Nation treaty - took effect on April 3. The treaty provides Tsawwassen First Nation with payments, settlements and other funds to help build Tsawwassen's future. The Tsawwassen treaty will operate within the framework of the Constitution of Canada. Within that framework, Tsawwassen First Nation has the constitutional authority to make laws in many areas of jurisdiction that are traditionally federal, provincial and municipal in nature.