Kitselas Treaty: Freedom from the Indian Act

Did you know true reconciliation in action is happening in northwestern BC with the Kitselas First Nation’s Treaty?

Right now, Kitselas is preparing to vote on the final draft of the Treaty and Constitution in April 2025. Non-members who have strong ties to Kitselas First Nation may be eligible to enrol to vote.

If a non-member decides to enrol and meets the requirements, they will become a Kitselas Citizen if the Treaty and Constitution are passed.

What does this mean for them?

As Kitselas Citizens, they must give up any other existing band or treaty nation membership and join Kitselas in freedom from the Indian Act—arguably one of the most oppressive laws in Canada’s history.

They will also have the opportunity to:

• Receive Treaty benefits
• Exercise Treaty rights
• Run for elected office
• Enjoy rights and freedoms described in the Kitselas Constitution
• and more

This is the first modern Treaty to be signed in over a decade and has taken over 30 years of negotiation to reach this critical point.

“Our aim through the Treaty vote is to end the legacy of colonialism and have Kitselas’ Aboriginal Rights and Title fully recognized,” said Chief Glenn Bennett, Kitselas First Nation.

“Treaty will help revitalize our culture, unlock economic opportunities, and close socio-economic gaps faced by generations of our people. By fostering the co-existence of Crown and First Nations governments, the Treaty will ensure shared prosperity and build constitutionally entrenched, nation-to-nation, government-to-government relationships,” Bennett added.

If successfully ratified by all parties, the Kitselas Treaty will constitutionally recognize Kitselas First Nation’s Treaty rights to governance, harvesting, land ownership, resource management, and other rights and benefits.

“Modern treaties are fundamentally reshaping Canada for the better because modern treaties and self-government agreements are actually working,” explained Dr. David Try, Ph.D, Senior Treaty Negotiator & Director Treaty.

“A Kitselas Treaty sets the groundwork to rebuild our communities based on our values and terms, rather than living under the Indian Act – a broken, unequal, and oppressive law from a long-dead past. Becoming a self-governing Nation based on our traditions, culture, and values, and with transparency and accountability to Kitselas Citizens is our ultimate goal.”

Learn more about the Kitselas Treaty and the criteria for eligibility to vote here:

https://kitselastreaty.ca/our-treaty/enrolment/