Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/97084
First Nations Government do so. In April 2011, the Huu-ay-aht emerged as a selfgoverning First Nation faced with the task of managing the lands they had reclaimed. "We are going to use technology to our advantage," says Larry Johnson. "We are going to use education to our advantage. And we're going to help Canada and British Columbia. Going forward, in treaty we have negotiated eight different licenses as well as some money to buy more access to these resources, so that our future generations will still have that connection to the ocean, like I grew up with." Emergent Government On April 1, 2012, the Huu-ay-aht First Nations (HFN) celebrated the first anniversary of its return to self-governance and the management of its own lands. "The first year has been overwhelming, but we will persevere in these proudest of times for our people," says Larry Johnson. The Huu-ay-aht are one of five First Nations of the Maa-nulth Treaty, which granted them self-government on April 1, 2011. Although more than 50 British Columbia First Nations currently are engaged in treaty negotiation, the Maa-nulth is only the second to have reached Final Agreement stage and bring closure for five of the 14 Nuu-chah-nulth Nations that began the negotiation process more than 20 years ago. Having emerged as a self-governing First Nation, the people are committed to embracing technology to rebuild, restore and revitalize their community, culture and economy. A data-rich GIS helped demonstrate rights and title during the treaty process to reclaim portions of their traditional lands. But now they had to manage them. The treaty agreement specifies many requirements that must be met before a First Nation can be deemed self-governing: one is the ability to demonstrate an effective method of managing the lands within its borders. Larry Johnson explains, however, that there's a simpler and more important reason to do so—and do it well. "Managing our lands and natural resources is a vital part of creating a better life for present and future Huuay-aht citizens," he notes. When faced with the choices of how to manage their reclaimed traditional lands, the Huu-ay-aht chose to not settle for the lumbering paper behemoths that current Canadian land registries had become, but to demand more from the system that would help them unlock the wealth of their lands. In doing so, it helped develop a Web-based land-registry system unlike anything ever produced. The land-registry system is based on Huu-ay-aht First Nation laws. It was designed to be simple enough to be quickly mastered by a small office staff, as they also work to develop community infrastructure and cultivate administrative capacity. A holistic and spatially accurate view of the nation's interests provided Huu-ay-aht leaders with clear information to make decisions early in the nation's rebirth that would shape its future trajectory. This technology allows a small Land Office staff to unlock the wealth of the lands and oceans by leveraging the nation's prior GIS investment as well as use consultation and referral processes to ensure accommodating and responsible land management. The system also can track applications as well as create and manage zoning according to the HFN Land-Use Plan. In recent years, the Huu-ay-aht Nation's population has spread out across British Columbia, so the Huuay-aht government is keenly aware of the need to track information well away from its homelands. "In order to bring our people home, we need to build an economy," adds Larry Johnson. The Huu-ay-aht also are looking to adopt Internet voting to achieve quorum and ensure democracy for its 683 citizens (according to Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, February 2011) scattered across Vancouver Island and mainland British Columbia as they work toward rebuilding their community in Anacla. "We have always shared these lands," he notes. "We just want to benefit from it this time." Unlocking the Land The House of Huu-ay-aht and the new administration building overlook Anacla and Pachena Bay. 24 G E O W O R L D / N O V E M B E R 2 O 1 2 "Since effective date (of treaty), we are now owners of our land once again," continues Larry Johnson. "We would like to unlock the wealth of the land and bring our people back to our homelands. We would like to tell the world 'we are open for business.'" The total land area to be managed currently comprises 1,077 hectares. The size and complexity of the managed areas will grow in coming years, however, as the Huu-ay-aht purchase more land and develop greater capacity for forestry and aquaculture management. Government Special Issue