Consultation with First Nations is an important part of the land and resource decision. Contracts signed between 1701 and 1923 with First Nations in Canada are commonly referred to as historical treaties. In BC, there are Douglas contracts that have been signed with First Nations on Vancouver Island and Contract 8, which covers part of northeastern Europe. The treaties that are signed today are called modern treaties and cover where there are no historical treaties and can also deal with issues that are not dealt with in historical treaties. The confrontation on Meares Island is seen as a turning point, as it was the first time that Aboriginal title was considered important enough to warrant an injunction against logging. The Meares Island case also led to the formation of the provincial Ministry of Native Affairs (which in the meantime became the Department of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation), whose Prime Minister was Frank Calder, Premier of Canada`s Indigenous Cabinet. In 2010, Canada signed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (ETRIP). Industry should become familiar with and recognize UNDP articles, which include promoting the role and responsibility of indigenous peoples in land management: before and knowingly of indigenous peoples, before pursuing economic development projects. Today, Canada, the BC and First Nations are negotiating modern treaties to resolve issues of uncertainty regarding the ownership or use of land and resources and law enforcement.

Modern contract negotiations are the result of the agreement of Canada, the BC and First Nations to establish a new relationship based on trust, mutual respect and mutual understanding. BC`s specific policy, developed jointly between the First Nations Summit, Canada and province bc, provides greater flexibility in the gradual or progressive development of agreements. The contracts were described as the great unfinished business of British Columbia. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, the federal government signed most of the contracts with Aboriginal people in the rest of Canada. However, very few contracts were negotiated or concluded in BC. B.C. works with indigenous leaders, government authorities, industry, local authorities and the public to support reconciliation and related agreements.