B.C. First Nation members vote to approve treaty, moving toward self-governance

Spencer Chandra Herbert speaks during a news conference in Vancouver B.C., on Wednesday July 20, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck A First Nation from the northwest coast of British Columbia has voted to support a constitution and a treaty that opens a path to a new era of self-government.

The Kitsumkalum First Nation located west of Terrace B.C., reports that 89 percent of voters gave their approval to the constitution while about 90 percent backed the treaty.

Elected chief councillor Troy Sam labeled it a "proud day," stating that the approvals "pave the way to a fresh chapter of self-rule, responsibility, and potential."

The Kitsumkalum Nation has about 825 members, with its lands stretching across the Skeena Region from Terrace to Prince Rupert.

Melissa Quocksister, who works on communications and engagement for the Kitsumkalum Treaty, says the vote lets the community exercise its inborn right to govern itself, and members will no longer have to follow the Indian Act's rules.

The Kitsumkalum Nation's website states that self-governance will shift the community away from the Indian Act. This change will give them the power to create laws much like provinces can.

"The Indian Act was created to control every aspect of Native life and still dictates how Native people are governed on-reserve," the website explains in a section answering questions about the treaty.

"The Canadian Government enacted the Indian Act in 1876 without asking or getting approval from Native people," it adds.

The website mentions that the treaty will grant full ownership of vast lands better access to resources ongoing access to traditional territory, and improved financial arrangements including a money transfer.

The provincial and federal governments must now approve the treaty to make it official. Spencer Chandra Herbert, B.C.'s minister of Indigenous relations and reconciliation, explains this requires the B.C. legislature and Canadian Parliament to pass laws implementing the treaty.

Herbert states he's determined to continue this process with the Kitsumkalum people.

B.C. officials say if all parties agree, they expect the Kitsumkalum Treaty to take effect around 2028.

While they haven't set a specific start date, Quocksister points out they still have plenty to do during the transition. This includes writing laws and making sure all members are ready to take on their new roles.

The Canadian Press first published this report on Nov. 2, 2025.

This story has been fixed. An earlier version said the Section 87 Tax Exemptions were lost. , the nation said it had worked out a deal to keep these exemptions after the Treaty Effective Date. We've taken out that sentence from the story.