For our Treaty to come into effect, it must first be ratified by Kitselas Members who have enrolled to be part of a Kitselas Treaty (Kitselas voters). To ratify the Treaty means the Kitselas Members give formal consent to the Treaty, making it official. For the Treaty to be ratified, Kitselas must have a ratification vote where the enrolled Kitselas voters will vote on the adoption of the Kitselas Treaty.
Constitution and Treaty Vote – April 10, 2025
Enrolled Kitselas voters will vote either ‘yes’ or ‘no’ on the Constitution and the Treaty. More than 50% (a majority) of the registered voters must vote for the Treaty to be ratified.
For example, if the official voter list is made up of 500 enrolled voters, 251 voters must vote for the vote to count.
Of the people who vote, 50% plus 1 must vote ‘yes’ for the Constitution and Treaty to be approved or “ratified.” If 400 members vote, then 201 must vote ‘yes’ to ratify the Constitution and Treaty.
After the Vote
If the majority votes ‘yes’ to the Kitselas Constitution and ‘yes’ to the Treaty, BC and Canada must then each pass laws to approve our Constitution and Treaty and set the date when the Treaty comes into effect—the ‘Effective Date.’
During this time, Kitselas will work on the many steps required for us to become a Treaty Nation—the ‘implementation’—from hiring many new staff to passing Kitselas Laws required by the Treaty.
If the majority votes ‘no’ to the Treaty, BC and Canada will not negotiate a better deal, Kitselas will remain an Indian Act band, and there will be no more funding for the Treaty.
FAQs About Ratification
Q: When does Kitselas vote on the Treaty and Constitution?
A: Enrolled Members can vote on the Treaty and Constitution in person on April 10, with options to vote online and by mail-in ballot opening mid to late March and running until April 10.
Q: What is required to ratify the Kitselas Treaty and Constitution?
A: For the Treaty and Constitution to be ratified, a ratification vote must take place where enrolled Kitselas voters cast their votes. More than 50% of the registered voters must participate in the vote, and of those who vote, at least 50% plus one must vote ‘yes’ for the Treaty and Constitution to be approved.
Q: What happens if the majority votes ‘yes’ to the Treaty?
A: If the majority votes ‘yes,’ BC and Canada must pass laws to approve the Kitselas Constitution and Treaty. They will then set an ‘Effective Date’ for the Treaty. During this time, Kitselas will begin the implementation process, which includes hiring staff and passing necessary Kitselas Laws.
Q: What happens if the majority votes ‘no’ to the Treaty?
A: If the majority votes ‘no,’ the process ends. BC and Canada will not negotiate another deal, and there will be no more funding for Treaty-related work.
Learn More
- Ratification Committee
- Enrol to vote on the Kitselas Treaty and Constitution
- Kitselas Treaty and Appendices
- Kitselas Constitution
- Log in to the Member’s Area to access informational materials from the over 30 Treaty Information Sessions we have hosted
- All You Need to Know to Vote on April 10
- 5 Ws of Voting