Tsilhqot'in National Government Geographic Location

Tsilhqot'in National Government

Member Bands

Alexandria Indian Band
Location
: Located around the town of Alexandria between Williams Lake and Quesnel. Main community is Alexandria Reserve No. 3, on the right bank of the Fraser River, 7 km south of the town of Alexandria. (14 reserves on 1,304.1 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members
: 175 (Source: Registered Population as of June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Alexis Creek First Nation (Tsi Del Del)
Location
: Located 110 km west of Williams Lake on Highway 20. Main community is at Redstone Flat No. 1, on the Chilanko River, 20 km west of the junction with the Chilcotin River and 7 km south of Puntzi Lake. (25 reserves on 2,610.7 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members
: 622 (Source: Registered Population as of June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Stone Indian Band (also known as Yunesit'in First Nation)

Location
: Located around Hanceville, 90 km west of Williams Lake. Main community is at Stone No. 1, 7 km west of Hanceville on the Chilcotin River. (Five reserves on 2,146.4 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members
: 393 (Source: Registered Population as of June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Tl'etinqox-t'in Government Office (formerly known as Anaham Indian Band)

Location
: Located 100 km west of Williams Lake near Alexis Creek. Main community is at Anahim Flat's No. 1 on the banks of the Chilcotin River. (19 reserves on approx. 11,300 hectares). (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members
: 1,450 (Source: Registered Population as of June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)


Xeni Gwet'in First Nation (formerly known as Nemiah Indian Band)

Location
: Located in the Nemiah Valley, 150 km southwest of Williams Lake on Chilko Lake. Main community is at Chilko Lake Reserve No. 1A on the east shore of Chilco Lake at the mouth of the Nemaia River, (Eight reserves on 1,200 hectares.) (Source: First Nations Profiles, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada and British Columbia First Nations websites)

Number of Band Members
: 393 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Background

Participation
: Government representatives are working to build relationships with the Tsilhqot’in National Government (TNG) member bands outside of the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process. The TNG is recognized by the Government of Canada as a tribal council representing five member bands. TNG is not part of the BC treaty process, nor are any of its five member bands.

Location
: Member bands are generally located throughout the Chilcotin Plateau, west of the Fraser River, between Riske Creek (20 km west of Williams Lake) and the Coast Mountains, except the Alexandria band which is north of Williams Lake on the east side of the Fraser River.


Total band members
: 3,033 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence 2001, Registered Population as of June 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Discussions

B.C. Government staff undertake discussions with First Nations outside the treaty process on a wide range of topics related to the resolution of the land question. 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.

Aside from their membership in the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, TNG and its member bands take a strong independent approach to any issues directly affecting their asserted traditional territory.

Other activities

In March 2008, Xeni Gwet’en First Nation received a $51,000 provincial government grant for a study to identify where remediation work is required to make the passage of fish easier. The logging of areas infested by the mountain pine beetle has necessitated the creation of road networks, and the aim is to ensure that fish can traverse the culverts where streams are crossed by roads. The study will also look at the amount of shading that is left near streams where trees have been removed and identify sites for restoration. This project will enable Xeni Gwet’in members to gain practical field experience conducting ecological restoration work.

Various TNG communities currently hold, or have held, forest licences through joint ventures with industry and through their own listed companies. The Ministry of Forests continues to explore ways to increase First Nation participation in the forest sector.

In September 2007, Alexis Creek First Nation and the Tatla Resource Association were invited to jointly apply for a probationary community forest agreement. The community forest agreement carries an initial five-year term, and granted the licensees the right to harvest up to 40,000 cubic metres of timber per year on public forest lands in the Williams Lake timber supply area.

In February 2007, Tl’etinqox-t’in First Nation received $3.4 million and access to 367,000 cubic metres of timber through a five-year forest and range opportunities agreement reached with the Province. Timber for the agreement is in the Williams Lake Timber Supply Area and supports the band’s harvesting company, Klatassine Resources Ltd.