The Fraser Valley Regional District has thrown its support behind the In-SHUCK-ch Nation’s call for the federal government to fund a housing “catch up” program so the First Nation can bring its people home.

“Catch up” refers to the In-SHUCK-ch Nation’s demand that the federal government fund the development of enough housing and infrastructure to enable it to shelter a proportion of its population on treaty land comparable to other B.C. First Nations.

In a March 4 letter to federal minister of Indian affairs Chuck Strahl, FVRD chair Patricia Ross noted that, without such a commitment, the First Nation won’t support a treaty.

“The Fraser Valley Regional District (FVRD) has developed a very positive relationship with the In-SHUCK-ch Nation and we are writing to support their request for the 'catch up' program,” Ross, an Abbotsford councillor, wrote. “The In-SHUCK-ch believe this program will support the long-term sustainability of their communities and members as well as provide short term employment stimulus to the surrounding off-reserve communities.”

Michael de Jong, B.C.’s minister of aboriginal relations and reconciliation, will announce on Monday (March 16) that the provincial government and the In-SHUCK-ch have reached an understanding on the substantive elements of a final agreement.

A February 6 letter, signed by three In-SHUCK-ch chiefs, noted that the First Nation had completed treaty talks on all substantive issues with the province.

“The outstanding matter remains commitments for catch-up, without which we simply cannot support treaty,” stated the letter, signed by Skatin chief Patrick Williams, Samahquam chief Keith Smith, and Douglas chief Don Harris.

Twenty percent of the In-SHUCK-ch’s more than 900 members live on its reserves in the lower Lillooet River Valley. The nation is seeking to match the provincial average of 42 percent.

In a February 12 e-mail to Strahl, In-SHUCK-ch chief negotiator Eppa said the First Nation needs the federal government to “remove the policy barriers that prevent us from becoming full participants in the Canadian social union, by bringing our people home”.

The In-SHUCK-ch first joined the B.C. treaty process in 1993. The nation signed an agreement-in-principle with the federal and provincial governments in 2007.

UPDATE:

Today (March 16), the provincial government and the In-SHUCK-ch Nation initialled an agreement of understanding on the substantive issues of a final agreement, concluding treaty talks between the two parties.

Treaty negotiations between the federal government and the In-SHUCK-ch will continue.

Follow Stephen Hui on Twitter at twitter.com/stephenhui.