The Coolican Report

The entrenchment of aboriginal and treaty rights in the 1982 "Constitution Act" required the federal government to reconsider its position regarding rights, self-government, and the negotiation of comprehensive land claims. Clearly the process required revamping. A task force released its report, "Living Treaties; Lasting Agreements" or more commonly know as the Coolican Report, in 1986. Its recommendations include four main principles: recognizing and affirming aboriginal rights, negotiation of aboriginal self-government; sharing of responsibility for management of land and resources between aboriginal peoples and government; and recognition that the interests of third parties (business and general public) be treated fairly. Despite these recommendations, negotiations of comprehensive land claims have proceeded at a slow pace, especially in British Columbia, the province with the most claims. (The Nisga'a began in 1976 and continue to this day.)

Throughout this entire period of court cases, constitutional debate, task forces, and negotiations, the British Columbia government remained steadfast in its refusal to recognize aboriginal rights or to become involved in the land claim negotiation process.