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Nicola Tribal Association

Member Bands

Coldwater Indian Band
Location
: Near Merritt. (Three reserves on 2,499 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 761 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Cook's Ferry Indian Band
Location
: Near Spences Bridge. Main community is on Kumcheon Indian Reserve #1. (Twenty-four reserves on 4,072.6 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 286 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Lower Nicola Indian Band
Location
: Near Merritt. (Ten reserves on 7,128.2 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 1,007 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

 
Nooaitch Indian Band
Location
: Located near Merritt. (Two reserves on 1,693.4 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 194 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Nicomen Indian Band
Location
: First Nation is located near Lytton, (16 reserves on 1,175.7 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 122 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Shackan Indian Band

Location
: Located near Merritt. (Three reserves on 3,873.7 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 119 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Siska Indian Band

Location
: On the Fraser River at Siska Creek, south of Lytton (11 reserves on 319.6 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members: 292 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Upper Nicola Band

Location
: Approximately 35 km east of Merritt. Main communities are located on Nicola Lake Indian Reserve #1 and Douglas Lake Indian Reserve #3. (Eight reserves on 1,600 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 866 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Background

Negotiating status
: Government representatives are working to build relationships with the Nicola Tribal Association outside of the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process.

Affiliation
: The Nicola Tribal Association office is in Merritt. Member bands are located in the area between Merritt, Lytton and Spences Bridge.
Total band members
: 3,568 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence 2005, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Discussions

In September 2004, the province joined local aboriginal leaders from the Coldwater, Lower Nicola, Nooaitch, Shackan, Upper Nicola and Upper Similkameen Bands and Nicola-Similkameen school district officials to sign the 13th aboriginal enhancement agreement to improve aboriginal student achievement. The agreement recognizes NçeÛkepmxcín and N'silxcin as the principal aboriginal languages in the asserted traditional territory of these First Nations, and in the school district. The agreement also ensures the continued support and development of aboriginal programs and curricula in schools.

In June and August 2004, B.C. announced funding for Cook's Ferry and Upper Nicola bands for irrigation projects. Funding of $157,500 was awarded to Cook's Ferry Indian Band to upgrade the irrigation system on the First Nation-owned Basque Ranch. The $110,000 in funding to the Upper Nicola allowed the band to replace an irrigation line to revitalize farming, and to produce a first-ever community economic development plan.

In February 2005, the B.C. Minister of Forests signed an agreement with the Upper Nicola that provides the band with $2 million in revenue sharing and access to 222,760 cubic metres of timber over five years in the Merritt, Kamloops and Okanagan timber supply areas.

In April 2005, the Ministry of Forests completed an agreement with the Siska Indian Band that will give the band access to 75,000 cubic metres of timber in the Lillooet, Fraser and/or Merritt timber supply areas, and $713,575 in revenue sharing over five years.

Provincial negotiators undertake discussions with First Nations outside the treaty process on a wide range of topics. Discussions are informal so the level of interaction varies according to specific situations and needs. Initiatives can involve building relationships with First Nations, and addressing concerns associated with asserted traditional territory.