Why Treaty?
Negotiating a Treaty offers a path towards self-governance and getting Kitselas out from under the Indian Act.
Self-Governance and Opportunities
The Kitselas People were self-governing long before European contact.
The Indian Act was passed in 1876 without the consent of Indigenous Peoples. The Indian Act was developed to control almost every aspect of life and continues to dictate the way Indigenous Peoples are governed on-reserve. It does not affect Métis or Inuit Peoples.
Self-governance will replace the Indian Act.
It strives to provide better opportunities for Indigenous people living within their traditional territory, while not excluding those Indigenous people who choose to live elsewhere.
Treaty gives us the right to make laws, similar to the laws that provinces are able to make. It also means we will create our own government that is designed by the Kitselas People and approved by us.
With self-governance, we will have more freedom to choose and control over our Treaty Settlement Lands and resources. The Kitselas People will be responsible for establishing a Constitution that will guide self-government.
The Treaty will also bring increased opportunities and ownership, improved services and control over our future and education.
