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Provincial Agreement on Haida Aboriginal Title

Last updated on September 22, 2026

For over 20 years, the Haida Nation and the Province of B.C. have been engaging constructively on new, successful approaches to reconciliation. These have included jointly managing aspects of natural resource and land-use decision-making on Haida Gwaii.

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The Province and the Council of the Haida Nation have completed several reconciliation initiatives:

Gaayhllxid • Gíihlagalgang "Rising Tide" Haida Title Lands Agreement 

The Gaayhllxid • Gíihlagalgang "Rising Tide" Haida Title Lands Agreement – along with supporting legislation -  the Haida Nation Recognition Act -  passed in Spring 2024, and formally recognizes Haida Aboriginal title throughout Haida Gwaii.

Recognizing Haida Aboriginal title is another foundational step in reconciliation for the Haida Nation and the Province, decades in the making. Recognizing Haida Aboriginal title means land on Haida Gwaii is formally recognized as Haida Aboriginal title lands. The Province and the Haida Nation are now working together to reconcile jurisdictions and laws on Haida Gwaii, through an orderly process, with engagement with local governments, residents and others with interests on Haida Gwaii.

Over the next several years the Council of the Haida Nation and the Province will also negotiate how provincial and Haida Nation laws can work together. Local governments, residents and others will have opportunities to have input into those discussions. During this transition process, land and resource decisions will continue to be made through existing processes.

The agreement is explicit: recognizing Aboriginal title does not impact anyone’s private property, whether residential, commercial or industrial. It also does not impact local government jurisdiction or bylaws on Haida Gwaii.

Provincial laws continue to apply through the reconciling process. Existing B.C. issued tenures, permits, licences and leases on Haida Gwaii will continue under the current system of collaborative decision-making between CHN and B.C. until new authorization processes and policies are established.

All land and resource management decisions on Haida Gwaii under provincial jurisdiction will continue to be made consistent with Haida Aboriginal title. 

There is no change for private property, local governments, or public infrastructure, programs, or services. Airports, ferry terminals, highways, public infrastructure, health care services, and schools are not impacted. Provincial and municipal services continue as they are today, including health, education, transportation, fire and emergency services.

Agreement scope

The agreement and legislation came into effect July 5, 2024, and do the following:

  • Recognize that Haida Nation has Aboriginal title throughout Haida Gwaii
  • Enable Haida Nation and B.C. to determine how the two governments’ laws work together to guide decisions about land and resources on Haida Gwaii
  • Include a reconciling process where Haida Nation and the Province continue to use their existing shared decision-making bodies and processes, including the Solutions Table and Haida Gwaii Management Council, to make the necessary land and resource decisions
  • Enable Haida Nation and the Province to negotiate subsequent agreements that provide clarity for managing the land base to ensure the sustainability of Haida Gwaii for all residents and the generations to come.

Open letters, news releases

The Province engaged with many different groups about the Gaayhllxid • Gíihlagalgang "Rising Tide" Haida Title Lands Agreement, including local governments and businesses, industry and tourism operators, residents and property owners to share more about the agreement and the Province's work with Haida Nation.

Contact

If you would like to receive updates, have any questions, comments or would like more information, please email IRRCoastNegotiations@gov.bc.ca.