There was more than a decade of negotiations before the Tsawwassen people ratified their treaty and adopted a constitution last July. Chief Kim Baird warned at the time that the hard work had just begun.

"Treaty was the easy part. The work really begins now."

That's Baird talking in her office in January.

Last year's excitement over the achievement of her community's voting 'Yes' on BC's first urban treaty has died down. So too has the glare of publicity that surrounded the vote and Baird's address to the BC Legislature last autumn.

"Ninety per cent of the work on treaty is internal," Baird said when asked about implementation of the treaty. "There must be about 25 projects we have to complete by the effective day. It will probably take about a year.

"It's daunting, but very exciting because it is the first substantial positive change for our community. There is a lot of excitement here and we want to capitalize on that... so we have to engage the community."

Many of the projects centre on the Tsawwassen Constitution which Baird considers the heart and soul of her community after treaty. "Until you start doing the community work on the constitution, you really don't appreciate its significance."

Tsawwassen's council and staff are rolling up their sleeves for the job ahead. Draft bylaws have to be written and enacted. Administrative policies and procedures (including those dealing with financial management) have to be adopted. A land use plan has to be created and put in place. It's all about nation building.

In the face of the excitement, Baird said there are practical and other challenges. "There is still a lot of cynicism here too, because of the Indian Act history."

WAS IT WORTH IT?

But, in answer to whether it was worth it - yes, a resounding yes.

"When I began this process I was a young woman, 20 years old. Now, I am what I like to think of as youngish at 37 years. Today, I have two girls, aged 4 and 10 months. I am confident they will study, work and live in a new and different world, defined by hope and fuelled by optimism, while being proud of their heritage."

Chief Kim Baird in her address to the B.C. Legislature on October 15, 2007 as debate began on the first urban treaty in modern-day BC. The complete speech is available to download from www.tsawwassenfirstnation.com