The Songhees Nation, along with four other southern Vancouver Island First Nations, signed an agreement-in-principle for land and cash.

The treaty also involved Beecher Bay, Malahat, T'Souke and Snaw-Naw.

The Te'mexw Treaty Association agreement-in-principle includes provisions for approximately 1,565 hectares of Crown land and transfers of approximately $142 million including a land fund for the 5 First Nations once final agreements are reached.

B次元官网网址淲e believe and hope that this signing will mark a commitment by Canada and British Columbia to do the hard work that will be needed to find solutions to problems that are ahead on the road to a modern treaty,B次元官网网址� said Songhees Chief Ron Sam. B次元官网网址淲e need to find land that will not only serve as a source for economic benefit for our community, but also as a home for our growing community. For without land, there is no future.B次元官网网址�

The agreement-in-principle is not a legally-binding agreement. It is the next stage of negotiations, which will lead to legally-binding final agreements with the five nations.

Songhees First Nation will receive the provincial capital commission headquarters in downtown Victoria.

The agreement-in-principle includes 27 chapters of issues such as governance, taxation and lands. It also outlines the processes for transition from the Indian Act to self-governance.

B次元官网网址淭hese documents can be blank pages without meaning without the commitment of all parties, our nations, the federal government and the provincial government, to see them live and take flight,B次元官网网址� said Sam.