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Those projects will be happening at the same time TFN members lose their Indigenous tax exemptions. Many members who live on former reserve land are concerned, says Chief Baird, that this year they have to start paying property transfer taxes and income taxes. As Kim Baird puts it: “There are some people who don’t want to pay taxes, even though they now have money to pay them.”

Stop ‘beating up’ the TFN

In the end it’s fair to say, for this small community next to the ferry terminal, signing a treaty more than 10 years ago has proved to be an astounding, and somewhat staggering, experience.

Yet the Baird siblings are among those determined to help the TFN forge ahead into an independent future. Despite the growing pains, positive things are happening economically, socially and culturally.

One of Kim Baird’s wishes is for Indigenous activists to just stop “beating up” the TFN. “It’s now kind of normal, especially among academics, Indigenous and otherwise, to say treaty making is bad,” she says.

Kim, who describes herself as “pragmatic,” is among the many who say evidence shows that First Nations that have achieved self-government in Canada generally have superior economic and social outcomes than those that haven’t.

“This treaty versus non-treaty discourse is almost like religion. It’s not really based on data or facts,” she says. “Many people would really like to not hear me say that.”

The TFN have made their choice and she thinks they deserve respect for it.

dtodd@postmedia.com

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