A new regional partnership will see nearly 8,000 hectares of traditional territory returned to the Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation.
In addition to 7,800 hectares of ranch lands, the partnership will also see the Nation take over nearly 56,000 hectares-worth of grazing licenses.
Last Spring, Vancouver-based geologist Ross Beaty purchased the BC Cattle Company Ranch, with the intent of restoring the land’s pre-colonial ecology.
But, when he learned the Nation was also in discussions with the province to purchase the same lands, he decided to return it to them instead.
Beaty sold the lands to the province for $16 million, then put the proceeds in a trust to fund environmental stewardship initiatives on the land.
In addition to purchasing the Ranch to transfer back to the Nation, the province has also invested an additional $3.6 million to help transition ownership of the ranch.
As part of the transaction, the Nation and province will enter into an umbrella agreement to help resolve ranching issues in the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw treaty negotiations.
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