The B.C. government signed an agreement with a Vancouver Island First Nation on Thursday, giving the group land and cash to use as leverage to further treaty negotiations.

Premier Gordon Campbell announced the deal with the Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations at a resort owned by the band in Tofino, on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

“I believe this first step can lead to a second step which will lead to a third step which can lead to the treaty that will make a difference in the lives of every single one of you,” Campbell told a large hall filled with members of the Tla-o-qui-aht nation.

“The guides to the resolution of this treaty are going to come from your community.”

The four-year agreement includes 65 hectares of land and $600,000, which will be handed out in stages as negotiations reach predetermined milestones.

The first cheque for $100,000 was presented to the band’s chief on Thursday.

The provincial government is currently negotiating treaties with more than four dozen communities across B.C., where, unlike in other provinces, lands were never legally ceded by First Nations.

The interim Tla-o-qui-aht deal does not involve the federal government, but the cash and land will become part of the final settlement.

Campbell said the agreement was the first of many such deals, and shows the province is committed to finding flexible, creative ways to reach treaty agreements.

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations were part of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, which reached an agreement in principle with the federal and provincial governments in 2001.

However, several member bands, including the Tla-o-qui-aht, either voted down the agreement or refused to participate in negotiations, and those negotiations ended without a deal.

Tla-o-qui-aht Chief Francis Frank called Thursday a “very special day.”

“Those young people behind us, that’s who this is all about,” he said. “Today is an important step to building those important blocks to achieve some certainty for our future generations.”

But one resident took the podium before the announcement to read a letter from members of the community who believe they “continue to be ignored” by the process.

“This [agreement] as it has evolved under the current treaty process has been pushed forward without proper consultation,” said Ruth Ogilvie.

“Further, we are disturbed and dismayed to hear that this is going through without due process of a vote. This is simply undemocratic.”

The chief said that sort of debate was healthy for the community and welcomed as the process moves forward.

“With more sharing of ideas with one another we will come to that place where people hopefully will get a sense of feeling inclusive,” Frank said.