Reclaiming Our Historical Rights

Why the ‘Namgis are negotiating a treaty

Message from the Chief

The treaty process is an opportunity for the ‘Namgis people to assert power over their lives and the life of their community.

It is an opportunity for us to exercise our economic power by setting the rules for resource development in our traditional territory – enabling us to protect those resources that are sacred, and to harvest those that we need for our own prosperity.

It is an opportunity for us to exercise our cultural power by setting our own rules for education, child-protection and cultural institutions, while at the same time providing long-term funding for these activities.

It is an opportunity for us to exercise our community power by setting our own rules for ‘Namgis health care services, infrastructure and other community services, while at the same time providing long-term funding for these activities.

What all of this has in common is an opportunity to exercise our legal and political power to guarantee our right to survive and prosper on the land we have occupied for thousands of years.

The treaty process is an opportunity for us to finally and fully take our rightful place as one of Canada’s First Nations – to share in all the benefits of living in this prosperous country, but do so in a way that honours the traditions, the spirit and the values of ‘Namgis.

In order for our community to use the power of the treaty process wisely, it is important for all of us to understand how the treaty would actually work. We need to understand how a treaty liberates us from the humiliation of the Indian Act.

The treaty is complex – the draft Agreement in Principle is over 200 pages long. Chief and Council have a duty to explain the treaty content and the treaty process in terms that make sense to everyone in the community. That’s why we have community meetings, that’s why we have newsletters, and that’s why we have this web site.

Please use this web site to explore the treaty, write down your questions, imagine your vision and note your concerns. Then come armed with your ideas to the next local community meeting – come and exercise your power as a member of the ‘Namgis Nation to be part of taking back control of our resources, our community and our lives.

Chief Bill Cranmer