Self-Government
Our people have resided in the Kitselas Canyon area for over 5,000 years – we were self-governing long before European contact. But the Indian Act took away our right to self-govern and has since controlled almost every aspect of our lives.
Negotiating a Treaty offers one path towards self-governance and supporting Kitselas out of the Indian Act. With the Treaty, we will again be a self-governing people within our Kitselas Treaty Settlement Lands.
Self-governance gives us the right to make laws, similar to those that provinces and municipalities can make. We will be able to set up our own government.
The Kitselas Government will be based on the Kitselas Constitution, which will give our people the power to create our own government structure—one that best serves Kitselas—and laws. We have been working on the Constitution for over a decade.
The Constitution and Treaty will be voted on by enrolled Kitselas Members on April 10, 2025.
Kitselas Constitution
The Kitselas Constitution sets out the legal foundation of the Kitselas First Nation, including the basic rights and responsibilities of Kitselas Members and the Kitselas Government. Developing and defining the Kitselas Constitution is a community-based process.
Treaty Information Sessions About Self-Government
FAQs About Self-Government
A: If the Treaty passes, we have time to develop and build out the Kitselas Government during the Treaty implementation phase. We will be in control, not the Indian Act.
A: Self-government without a Treaty limits Kitselas to our Indian Reserve lands and some of
the restraints of the Indian Act. Under self-government alone, much of the Indian Act would still apply; there would be no land transfer to Kitselas (no Treaty Settlement Lands) and no cash settlement.
The Land Code is an example of self-government. With the Kitselas Treaty, we will structure our own government, govern ourselves under our own Constitution, become the owners of the Treaty Settlement Lands, and receive a cash settlement. Under a Treaty, we achieve the right of self-determination.
A: Post-Treaty, we will make the laws. The Kitselas Constitution will set out the general process of making laws Post-Treaty. Any new law or changes to existing laws will require community engagement, Chief and Council can’t just change or create new laws.
A: We will still have democratic elections. We will initially vote for ten representatives, including a Chief. One representative will be elected by a Traditional Leadership Council, bringing the total Kitselas Legislature membership to 11 legislators.