IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 10, 2025, Terrace, BC – More than 30 years after beginning the Treaty process, Kitselas First Nation Members have voted ‘yes’ to becoming a Treaty Nation during a ratification vote on April 10, 2025. 

Voting by the Numbers: The vote on the Kitselas Treaty and Constitution required a double majority, meaning 50 per cent plus one of the enrolled voters had to vote, and 50 per cent plus one had to vote Yes for the Treaty and Constitution to be ratified. A preliminary count of the votes indicated that both double majorities were met. The preliminary count is as follows:

• 96.4 per cent of enrolled voters voted on the Kitselas Treaty and Constitution. 
• 85 per cent voted ‘yes’ on the Treaty and 81 per cent voted ‘yes’ on the Constitution.

For the next three to four years, Kitselas will implement the Treaty and work towards the Treaty Effective Date.

With Treaty, Kitselas become a self-governing nation, no longer controlled by Canada’s Indian Act. Enrolled Kitselas Citizens will be able to:

• Vote in elections
• Receive Treaty benefits
• Exercise Treaty rights
• Run for elected office
• Attend the annual Kitselas People’s Assembly
• Enjoy rights and freedoms described in the Kitselas Constitution

QUOTES:
Chief Councillor Glenn Bennett: “Our Members have made their voice heard, and now we are taking control of our future. This agreement gives us ownership of our land, the right to govern ourselves, and better programs and services for our People. Freed from the constraints of the Indian Act, we can make decisions that reflect Kitselas Way-who we are and what we want for our community. This is a new beginning, and it will help us build a better future for generations to come.”

Dr. David Try, Senior Treaty Negotiator: “This is true reconciliation in action. The Kitselas Treaty Team, together with Canada and BC governments, have negotiated for over three decades to ensure a fair Treaty settlement for the Kitselas People. More importantly, the Kitselas People have worked together to establish a Constitution that will now govern the Kitselas First Nation and its Members.”

Christine Boyle, B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation: “Congratulations to the Kitselas First Nation on reaching a milestone that has been decades in the making. This decision to vote in favour of ratifying the Kitselas Treaty and Constitution is one that generations of Kitselas people have worked towards, and today is a day to celebrate and honour all of them. The next step is for British Columbia to ratify the treaty, and the Province remains firmly committed to taking this path alongside the Kitselas people.”

BACKGROUND:
Kitselas’ Modern Treaty Instills Economic Stability

• Kitselas will receive $9+ million to implement the Treaty, funding that will be used for initiatives like drafting laws, hiring new staff, and preparing for the Effective Date.
• Kitselas will receive ~$140 million capital transfer (cash settlement). This money can be used for new programming and opportunities to create economic stability.
• Kitselas will receive 95,000 aces as Kitselas Treaty Settlement Lands (TSL).
• Existing programming will still be funded through BC and Canada, and the interest from the capital transfer (around $5 million a year) can be used to enhance existing programs.
• Kitselas Members enrolled in the Treaty will receive a portion of the cash settlement, and minors will have their money put in a trust until they are 18.

30+ years of negotiations, 10+ years of planning, and four+ years of engagement
Negotiations towards the Treaty started in 1993, the Agreement-in-Principle was ratified by the Kitselas people in 2013, and the Treaty was initialed in 2024. 

In the last year alone, the Kitselas Treaty Team planned, organized, and executed over 75 engagement events to ensure all Kitselas Members, and eligible non-Members, could make an informed vote on the Treaty and Constitution, while welcoming up to 200 members per event.

To ensure Members had the information and facts to make an informed vote, Dr. David Try, Senior Treaty Negotiator, led a Treaty Team of 11 comprised of: Bonita Mercer-Young, Joan Mason, Crystal Wright, Zoe Bevan, Matilda Henry, Clarisa Spencer, Jodie McKay, Sharon Nabess, Brianna Anderson, Mary Lou Starrett, and Evelyn Bolton.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
To arrange media interviews or quotes, please contact:

Chief Councillor Glenn Bennett
Phone: 250-615-8704‬
Email: glennbennett@kitselas.com

Senior Treaty Negotiator Dr. David Try:
Phone: 250-615-2616
Email: sr.negotiator@kitselas.com