The Te’mexw member Nations hold Douglas Treaty rights to hunt over unoccupied lands, but the Nations’ views of what these rights include often differ from the provincial government’s view. Modern treaties would recognize hunting rights within certain wildlife harvest areas to be negotiated between the Nation, Canada and BC, subject only to conservation, public health and public safety. Te’mexw member Nation Citizens would also be able to trade and barter wildlife and wildlife parts harvested under the treaties among themselves or with other Indigenous people in Canada.
We also expect the modern treaties would address the rights of Te’mexw member Nation Citizens to hunt outside of their traditional territories under protocols with other Nations.
Under modern treaties, the Nations would also have law-making power with respect to hunting and trade and barter of wildlife by Te’mexw member Nation Citizens.