The Yale Treaty and it's Impact on Stó:lō Rights and Title
From the offices of Joe Hall, President of Stó:lō Nation, and Grand Chief Clarence Pennier, President of Stó:lō Tribal Council:
Defending our Stó:lō Rights and Title from Impacts of the Yale Treaty
In 2010, Yale First Nation, Canada and British Columbia initialed the Yale First Nation Final Agreement ('Treaty'). This Treaty, if finalized by B.C. and Canada, will give Yale First Nation ownership of hundreds of hectares of land in the Lower Fraser Canyon (the 'Canyon') for their exclusive use and control including control of access by Stó:lō. Since Time Immemorial all Stó:lō have shared ownership and use of the resources and lands of the Lower Fraser Canyon, including the Fishery, as part of our Stó:lō title and rights. The Canyon is an integral part of S'ólh Temexw (Our Land; Our World). The Yale Treaty will infringe Stó:lō title and rights. It will irreversibly violate our laws of the land and ancient tribal and family arrangements by which we maintain our Stó:lō title and rights to S'ólh Temexw including the Canyon.
We object in the strongest possible terms to the Yale Treaty, as written, and the irreconcilable harm it will do to us by taking away our traditional lands and resources -- as an act of theft.
In working together to defend ourselves against the impacts of the Yale Treaty we Sto:lo are making this united Declaration of our aboriginal rights and title to S’ólh Temexw including the Lower Fraser Canyon.
Joe Hall, President Grand Chief Clarence Pennier, President
Stó:lō Nation Stó:lō Tribal Council
Downloadable version of the above is available here (
PDF 431KB)
What You Need to Know: How the Yale Treaty Will Impact Stó:lō Rights and Title
If the Yale Treaty is implemented as is, we the Stó:lō will forever:
- Lose the ability to exercise our rights and title to lands in the canyon
- Be considered trespassers on our own land
- Lose our tradition of passing down our ancestral fishing and dry rack sites to future generations
- Require permission from Yale to access sacred heritage sites and continue Stó:lō cultural practices in the canyon
To find out more about how the Yale Treaty will impact Stó:lō Rights and Title, download the What You Need to Know guide here (PDF 2.3MB)
Signed Memorandums; Re: Yale Treaty
From Joe Hall, on behalf of Stó:lō Nation, to Premier Clark, Minister Polak, Members of Cabinet, BC Legislature, Minister John Duncan: Memorandum.
From Joe Hall, on behalf of Stó:lō Nation, to the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs Council: Memorandum.
From Joe Hall, on behalf of Stó:lō Nation, to the Honourable Steven Point, Lieutenant Governor of British Columbia: Memorandum.
