For example, today, tenure in British Columbia is largely held by government, industry and various other interests. Aboriginal groups, such as tribal councils and bands, are invited to sit at round tables to discuss their traditional territories, but discussions are restricted to adherence to the Treaty Process and subject to many other powerful forces. The referral process now in place in British Columbia is not consultation and plays little more than lip service to Aboriginal rights to land use. However, times are changing in relation to economic land uses. Land ownership is changing with tenure and reserve status.
Indigenous people have the opportunity to loudly and clearly argue for their view of land use.
As they increase their ability to create agreements, and to successfully represent themselves to non-indigenous institutions, they gain confidence so that they can take a major role in land use planning and management. Concurrently, in many jurisdictions, and in British Columbia in particular, treaties are being created that have huge implications for land use. Indigenous people can use this opportunity to lobby and have influence on international corporations with respect to international treaties as they search for a variety of means to encourage governments to recognize different views of land use by different treaty arrangements. Indigenous people can focus discussion on the spirit and intent of treaties while addressing issues that involve major stakeholders.