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Meetings underway in all communities on the CHN/BC agreement

The Council of the Haida Nation is hosting discussions in every community to inform people about the next phase of negotiations between it and the province.
One meeting, open only to Haida people, was held in Skidegate Wednesday, and two more are scheduled Thursday in Old Massett (Haida only) and Masset (in the evening, open to all). Then Monday, meetings will be held in Queen Charlotte in the afternoon and Sandspit in the evening, and the final meeting will be held Tuesday in Port Clements. (Details are printed on page 21 of the paper paper).
The memorandum of understanding signed in mid-May was a step in the negotiating process, not a resolution, said CHN president Guujaaw. It gives both sides 30 days to reach an agreement about protected areas, and six months to reach agreement about sustainable harvest levels, he said.
Even after a new harvest level is agreed upon, the process will continue, said Guujaaw. "The understanding will lead to a resolution, but that's not the end." Nothing will be finished until we "know what the fate of the land will be, that the timber economy will be managed responsibly, and that the people are able to have a good life here," he said.
Maps, displays and information about the negotiations thus far will be available at the meetings, said Guujaaw. For more information, call 559-4468.