Aboriginal Affairs Minister Dale Lovick, meeting with In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua leaders last weekend, pledged money for a study to look at upgrading the Pemberton-Douglas Forest Road. The road, which runs through In-SHUCK-ch territory from Harrison Lake to Lillooet Lake, is integral to the In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua plans for long-term economic development. Lovick said "no matter what others say or do," in regards to treaty negotiations, his government will continue to negotiate with In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua. In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua treaty negotiations are among the most advanced of any of the 46 First Nations in B.C. in the treaty negotiation process. The Nisga’a have negotiated a treaty outside of the B.C. Treaty Commission process. The In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua have set a May, 1999 deadline to reach an agreement in principle with the federal and provincial governments. Gerard Peters, chief negotiator for In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua, said he feels good about the way negotiations are going. "When everything is done we should be able to take care of ourselves and not be a burden on each other, on Canada, or on B.C.," Peters said. In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua see tourism as one of the primary industries which will help them achieve self-sufficiency following a treaty. A proper highway through their territory is integral to that plan. Currently the Pemberton-Douglas road is a rough, narrow gravel thoroughfare used extensively by logging trucks. Nearly five years of negotiations by In-SHUCK-ch N’Quat’qua, the provincial government and the federal government have produced agreement on a number of chapters which will make up the agreement in principle. The three sides will initial those chapters in a special ceremony at the Pemberton Community Centre on Nov. 24.
