ANYONE who has visited the Kitselas Canyon historic site or, just lately, driven back and forth over the spur line crossing Hwy16 stretching from the CN main line to the new Kitsumkalum rock quarry can realize the economic benefits First Nations tourism and industrial development bring to the immediate area.
Although both developments were accomplished without either a Kitselas or Kitsumkalum final land claims and self government agreement with the federal and provincial governments, both provide a glimpse of how the future is going to shape up in this area now that both First Nations have approved respective agreements in principle leading toward final agreements.
What’s interesting is that First Nations governments stand to benefit from resource taxation of various kinds more so than local governments. That’s because resources are most often located far outside of local government boundaries.
And that gives rise to the old saying that a rising tide floats all boats. With First Nations, in this case the Kitselas and the Kitsumkalum, developing final agreements, the economic development picture will be much clearer.
As First Nations prosper through development on treaty or traditional lands, so will, inevitably, everyone else in the region. To be sure, no system is perfect and challenges await, but the creation of wealth is something to be embraced by all.
