Like all relationships, the New Relationship between aboriginal and non-aboriginal British Columbians has recently hit a rough patch. We will get through it.

The Old Relationship is too painful, particularly for aboriginal people, to continue. The experience under the Indian Act, residential schools, the crushing of language, religion and culture, the denial of 10,000 years of aboriginal use and occupation of their traditional territories: These are all real injustices, for which we need to atone and apologize, and move on to a new relationship.

The New Relationship is just that - new. Starting with the September, 1992, establishment of the historic B.C. treaty process, the 1996 Nisga'a agreement in principle and 2000 treaty, we in B.C. have started down an irreversible path.
However, the treaty process, troubled but not in trouble, and the New Relationship (which is the first principle of the 1992 treaty process agreement), Canada, B.C. and First Nations all need to make some changes, based on mutual respect and recognition of each other's rights - and title.

To achieve those changes we have to focus on the end goals:

Self-government and self-sufficiency for First Nations;
B.C.'s establishment of the New Relationship, which will allow First Nations to emerge from under the colonial regime of the Indian Act, and the rest of British Columbia to have greater certainty and less confrontation and litigation on the territories we share;
The dismantling of the Indian Act bureaucracy, while Canada still carries out its continuing fiduciary duty to our first citizens.

B.C.'s aboriginal communities, as I advocated during four years as the federal appointee to the B.C. Treaty Commission, need to make many changes to disengage from being Indian Act communities. They need to establish long-term comprehensive community plans and visions. Those communities need to work to create a better life for their citizens, particularly the young, who are the fastest growing population in Canada.

Self-government structures need to replace band councils and tribal councils, which aren't governments. They're service-delivery bodies put in place in the 1970s as temporary measures. At the same time, First Nations need to build up the skills and experience to run government institutions and economic enterprises. Many First Nations are small vulnerable communities - the largest is 2,000 people - and are thin on people needed to run self-governing and self-sufficient communities.

Young aboriginal people, in particular, need to receive their high-school graduation certificates, postsecondary university, technology or vocational certificates. Then they need opportunities and experiences to lead and manage their governments, civil services and entrepreneurial enterprises. Private business, B.C. and Canada can be very helpful.

British Columbia doesn't have a way of "consulting, engaging and accommodating" First Nations title and rights. So more than $1-billion of investment a year doesn't come to B.C.

Lawsuits continue. Aboriginal frustration builds.

Canada has no plan to dismantle its bureaucracy in B.C., as First Nations become self-governing and more self-sufficient. Plus Canada's policy of clawing back revenue, called the "own source revenues" policy, creates too much of a disincentive for many First Nations (the Squamish are an example) to conclude treaties.

Finally, there are other outstanding issues, such as aboriginal negotiations debt (which should be written off by B.C. and Canada), municipal/First Nations relationships, business playing a partnership role and the true meaning of aboriginal sovereignty, title and rights.

However, these can wait for another day. In the meantime, let's repair the New Relationship.

Mike Harcourt was premier of B.C. from 1991 to 1996.