Staff

Cyril (CJ) Bennett-Nabess

Manager

Years working on the Treaty Team: 6

Cyril is a member of Kitselas and a graduate of Northwest Community College’s Fine Art diploma program. He has worked with the Treaty Department for the last six years. Prior to that, he worked for Coast Mountain School District 82 in the First Nations Education Centre.

Zoe Bevan

Intern

Years working on the Treaty Team: 7

Zoe has worked with the Kitselas Treaty Office for a total of seven years, four years as a summer student and three years as an intern. She is a student who is currently working on her Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts program, first at the University of British Columbia and now at the University of Northern British Columbia.

Matilda Henry

Communications Officer

Years working on the Treaty Team: 1

Matilda has worked for Kitselas for seven years in the Lands & Resource Department as the Receptionist. Recently, she moved into the position of Communications Officer. Matilda has her Administrative Certificate from Coast Mountain College and a Certificate in Business Skills from TRU.

Geneva Mason

Community Engagement Coordinator

Years working on the Treaty Team: ~4

Geneva has supported the Treaty Team in a number of communication and engagement roles since 2012. Currently, she is supporting the Treaty Team with community engagement.

Joan Mason

Treaty Engagement Coordinator

Years working on the Treaty Team: 6

Joan has worked in many Kitselas Departments in a variety of roles and also worked as an Administrative Assistant for UNBC Terrace Campus. From 2012 until 2017, Joan was the Treaty Receptionist, then Community Engagement Coordinator. In 2021, Joan returned to the Treaty Department to the role of Community Engagement Coordinator.

David Try, PhD

Senior Treaty Negotiator / Director Treaty

Years working on the Treaty Team: 1

David has almost 50 years of work experience, primarily with the federal and provincial governments. This knowledge of government, combined with his experience in face-to-face negotiations, is very useful when negotiating a treaty.

Treaty Timeline

See Treaty Process

Stage 4 - Negotiation of an Agreement-in-Principle (AIP)

Negotiations at this stage will form the basis of the Treaty. The AIP also lays the groundwork for the implementation of the treaty Final Agreement negotiations. In 2013, Kitselas voted in favour of the AIP.

Stage 5 - Negotiation to Finalize a Treaty

Current Stage

The Treaty that is concluded at this stage will formalize the relationship between all parties, any legal or technical issues are resolved and any outstanding items are re-opened. At the completion of this stage, a final agreement will be signed that is legally binding.

Stage 6 - Implementation of a Treaty

If the Kitselas people vote ‘Yes’ for the Treaty, the plans to implement the treaty are put into effect or phased in as agreed during this stage.

Stage 1 - Statement of Intent

The First Nation files a Statement of Intent with the BC Treaty Commission to negotiate a Treaty. Kitselas first signed the Statement of Intent in 1990 as part of the Tsimshian Tribal Council.

Stage 2 - Preparations for Negotiations

An initial meeting is held to exchange information, discuss research, identify main issues of concern and determine the readiness of all parties to begin negotiations.

Stage 3 - Negotiation of Framework Agreement

This is the agreed-upon agenda that identifies the issues to be negotiated, the goals of the negotiation process and a timetable for negotiations.