Winalagalis Treaty Group

Member Bands
Background
Negotiations
Other Activities
Planned Meetings

Member Bands

Da'naxda'xw First Nation (also Tanakteuk)

Location

: Rebuilding a community at Knight's Inlet on B.C.'s central coast, approximately 270 km northwest of Vancouver. (Seven reserves on 317.9 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 187 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw Nation (formerly Tsulquate)

Location

: Main community is on Tsulquate Indian Reserve #4, near Port Hardy on northern Vancouver Island. (26 reserves on 794.1 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 764 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Quatsino First Nation

Location

: Main community located 5 km from Coal Harbour on Quatsino Sound, on the north end of Vancouver Island, approximately 400 km northwest of Vancouver. (19 reserves on 346.2 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 430 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Tlatlasikwala Band (formerly Nuwitti)

Location

: Some members live at Whe-la-la-u, a federal Crown village site set aside for the aboriginal people of B.C., near Alert Bay (on Cormorant Island in the Johnstone Strait, approximately 400 km northwest of Vancouver). (Six reserves on 3,474.4 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 55 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Background

Negotiating status

: Negotiating a comprehensive treaty settlement in the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process.

Negotiating affiliation

: Negotiating with Canada and British Columbia on behalf of its four member bands -- Da'naxda'xw First Nation, Gwa'Sala-nakwaxda'xw Nation, Quatsino First Nation, and Tlatlasikwala Band -- which are affiliated with the Kwakiutl District Council. 'Namgis First Nation, affiliated with Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council, withdrew from the Winalagalis Treaty Table and is now negotiating independently in the B.C. treaty process. Another former Winalagalis Treaty Group member band, the Kwakiutl Band Council, is currently not active in negotiations.

Location

:Member bands are located on the north end of Vancouver Island.

Total band members

: 1,368 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence 2005, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Negotiations

The Winalagalis Treaty Group (WTG) entered the treaty process in April 1997, and is now in Stage 4 of the six-stage process, negotiating an agreement in principle. The four member bands are at one table negotiating four individual comprehensive treaties with Canada and British Columbia.

In March 2005, the governments of Canada and British Columbia announced a total of $330,000 in funding to assist WTG in cultural and governance studies that support Agreement-In-Principle negotiations.

Negotiations have focused on fisheries and forestry, as well as language, culture and heritage. One treaty-related measure-a tourism economic study-is being completed.

Major issues in the negotiations are access to fisheries and a role in fisheries management, and the impact of logging on land selection and fisheries habitat.

Other activities

In 2002, a seven-year timber sale licence awarded to the Quatsino, Kwakiutl and Tlatlasikwala First Nations. Timber Sale Licence A66259 authorizes an allowable annual cut of 43,345 cubic metres of timber from Tree Farm Licence 6 in the Port McNeill forest district. The timber sale licence encourages participation of local communities, including First Nations, in managing forest resources and creating forestry jobs and training.

The Quatsino First Nation was involved in the development of a coastal plan for Quatsino Sound. The Quatsino Sound Coastal Plan, released in March 2004, identifies high potential sites for shellfish and finfish aquaculture as well as structures associated with upland development, including docks, wharves and other infrastructure. A number of follow-up projects have been recommended to further support shellfish aquaculture development, seen as having considerable potential for local development by First Nations and local communities.

Planned meetings

As dates are established for open public meetings, they will be publicized through the local media and posted on the B.C. Treaty Commission Website Negotiations Calendar.