Kitselas First Nation members vote in favour of self-governance

The Canadian Press

· Posted: Apr 11, 2025 2:23 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 minutes ago

Members of the Kitselas First Nation successful British Columbia's Skeena Valley portion person voted to go self-governing.

The federation said in a quality merchandise that much than 96 per cent of its enrolled voters took portion successful the ratification connected Thursday.

It said 85 per cent voted for the treaty, portion 81 per cent voted "Yes" for its constitution.

The federation says the ballot means it volition nary longer beryllium "controlled by Canada's Indian Act" and volition enactment for the adjacent 3 years to instrumentality the treaty.

It says nether the treaty, enrolled citizens volition beryllium capable to ballot successful elections, person pact benefits, workout their rights and tally for elected office.

The pact — which was initialled successful June by the federation and the governments of Canada and British Columbia— has been nether dialog since 1993. 

"This is simply a historical time successful the past of our people. The years of work, dedication, effort, interest and wonderment person present ended. We tin rejoice successful our autarkic status," elected Chief Councillor Glenn Bennett said successful a merchandise Thursday.

"We are nary longer enslaved to rules and repression of the archaic and regressive Indian Act that has nary spot successful a escaped and modern society."

Christine Boyle, B.C.'s curate of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, congratulated the federation connected Friday, saying it has been successful pact negotiations with provincial and national governments since 1993, and the palmy ratification ballot is simply a determination "generations of Kitselas radical person worked toward."

She said in a connection that the pact is simply a "path to self-governance, designation of rights, collaborative assets management, and caller economical opportunity."

"It provides the ground for a revitalized narration betwixt Kitselas, their neighbours and each levels of authorities by fostering shared understanding, providing certainty and supporting further enactment unneurotic successful the region," she said. 

Provincial and national ratification volition present involve the B.C. Legislature and Canadian Parliament passing authorities to instrumentality the treaty, Boyle said.

There volition besides beryllium opportunities for determination and nationalist engagement arsenic good arsenic consultation with neighbouring First Nations, she added.

"As the curate of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, I stay firmly committed to taking this way alongside the Kitselas people," Boyle said.

In February, the neighbouring Gitxaała Nation wrote a missive to the pb national and provincial pact negotiators, expressing disappointment that the Kitselas had acceptable a day for ratification without archetypal reaching a protocol agreement
with Gitxaała.

It said a protocol statement is required due to the fact that the Kitselas treaty would "adversely impact Gitxaała Aboriginal rubric and rights."