The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council brings together seven member nations to unify our voices and strengthen our inherent indigenous rights, title, and interests in our territories.
The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) is pleased to host our 40th Annual General Assembly (AGA) on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, at 10:00 am.
This meeting is open to all members of the CSTC Member Nations. Please note that any ineligible registrants will be removed prior to the event.
(Unceded Territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nations – Sept. 29, 2021) Carrier Sekani Tribal Council will recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation this Sept. 30 as a solemn reminder of the horrors experienced by residential school survivors and of those children who did not survive.
The impacts of the residential school system are ongoing and felt throughout our member nations. This day is set aside to honour survivors, their families and communities.
CSTC will be closed Sept. 30 to give staff and members much needed time to spend with loved ones and to participate in reflection and healing.
If you are in distress and need support, please contact the Indian Residential School Survivors Society 24-hour Crisis Line at 1-800-925-4419.
(Stellat’en First Nation, Nadleh Whut’en and Ts’il Kaz Koh – Aug. 3, 2021) Three Carrier Sekani First Nations have collaborated to develop a regional, central dialect Dakelh language app aimed at increasing the number of Dakelh speakers and addressing loss of language in Dakelh communities.
Stellat’en First Nation, Nadleh Whut’en and Ts’il Kaz Koh jointly developed the app for Android users with funding from the Pathways Forward Agreement, an agreement made between the provincial government and the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council to increase economic opportunities for Carrier Sekani First Nations while addressing decision-making, management and revenue sharing of lands and resources, and healing communities through socio-cultural work.
“Your language is your sense of belonging and identity,” says Eleanor Nooski, Nadleh Whut’en Language and Culture Coordinator. “Once the children start learning, there’s so much pride when the elders see it, and there’s a ripple effect in the whole community.”
The app is called ‘Dakelh nekhunik yats’ulhduk,’ which translates to English to mean ‘we will speak like our ancestors.’ It interfaces users with recorded pronunciations of the words spoken in a regional dialect of Dakelh. Traditional learning through oral history has been easily incorporated into the app.
A previous version of the app was developed strictly for iPhone, but was cost prohibitive for community members who cannot afford Apple products. The new app includes over 900 newly recorded words in a shared dialect between the three nations and is fully owned and copyrighted by the communities.
“Our language was never recorded and never written,” says Stellat’en First Nation Language Assistant Dennis Patrick. “It’s been a generation that’s lost virtually everything, and it’s important to know that when we learn this language, we’re learning about the land and who we are.”
Development of the app began in 2014, when elders and youth stayed in a hotel together to record Dakelh words for things like body parts, animals and phrases. In 2018, the three First Nations began collaboration on building the app for Android.
Collaboration between the three communities was key because the number of fluent speakers in each community varies, with Nadleh Whut’en having such low numbers, developing the app independently would have been very difficult.
Ts’il Kaz Koh Language Program and Culture Coordinator Sherry Tibbetts believes this app is an important part of healing through language and cultural activities. She is happy to be a part of the collaborative approach to teaching language in new ways.
“We live in a time when we have to be creative and innovative in everything we do,” says Tibbetts, who credits her close colleague for empowering her to take bold action to help her community. “I’ve been inspired by Karen Sharp. She taught me that everything you want to do, think beyond the impossible. When opportunity’s thrown at you, you take it.”
‘Dakelh nekhunik yats’ulhduk’ is available for download on Android.
CONTACT:
Audrey McKinnon
Communications Coordinator
250-617-3862
communicationsofficer@cstc.bc.ca
(Unceded Territory of Lheidli T’enneh First Nations – July 6, 2021) After over 10 years of low returns for the Early Stuart sockeye salmon run, hope may finally be on the horizon for a resurgence. With the aid of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), Inch Creek Hatchery, and the Takla and Tlazt’en First Nations, 60,000 sockeye smolts were released on June 8 in Gluskie Creek to help rebuild the salmon population.
Sockeye smolts released in Gluskie Creek
While the Early Stuart sockeye run has been low for over a decade, the Big Bar landslide in 2019 further endangered the species’ migration routes and population. This encouraged the Big Bar Landslide Response Team, a collaboration of DFO, The Province and First Nations, to team up with Inch Creek Hatchery and First Nations Groups from the Spawning grounds to help improve the population. Over 60,000 eggs were taken, fertilized, hatched and raised at the Inch Creek Hatchery in Dewdney, B.C. Once the smolts had reached 10 months of age, Inch Creek Hatchery brought the smolts up to Middle River to release the fish at Gluskie Creek. Representatives from Takla Lake First Nation, Tl’azt’en Nation, CSTC and DFO attended the release.
Kayleigh Patrick, Kimberely Alec, and John Alec Sr. looking over the release with DFO officer Kevin Laarman
The hope is that a portion of these 60,000 smolts will return in 3 years as full-sized salmon to breed and help raise the fish population. With easier passage through Big Bar, good ocean conditions and the right environmental conditions during migration, we should see an increase in the fish population for years to come.
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council is devastated to learn that the remains of 215 children were discovered buried on the site of the former Kamloops Indian Residential School last weekend.
This Thursday, May 27, the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc band confirmed the remains were found with the help of a ground-penetrating radar specialist. Work is still being done on the site to potentially find more remains.
Some of our people spent their childhoods at this school, which closed in 1969, and it is possible our own members are among the unidentified remains found there last weekend. This is a painful reminder of an unspeakable injustice on our people through the Residential School System that aimed to erase us from our land and from history.
These 215 lives ended in childhood were the result of an act of colonial violence and genocide; we will never know who these children would have become to us.
We as Carrier Sekani First Nations must say a prayer for much needed healing and to honour the children who were forcibly separated from their families before having their lives taken from them too soon.
As a community, we will never forget the atrocities done to our people, but we have the strength of many to heal and pray together. We are reminded to also ask for healing for those who still carry the scars of Residential School today.
Our hearts are with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc band as we spend time this weekend reflecting on this horrifying discovery.
With great sadness,
Mina Holmes,
Tribal Chief, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
(Carrier Sekani First Nation Territories – May 21, 2021) –The Carrier Sekani First Nations applaud Minister Katrine Conroy’s apportionment decision for the Prince George Timber Supply Area that was announced today. It represents the culmination of a collaborative decision-making process between the Carrier Sekani First Nations and the Minister on the apportionment decision.
Today marks a milestone for all British Columbians as the Minister has apportioned 1,240,233 cubic metres in the Prince George Timber Supply Area to First Nations, which represents nearly 15% of the Allowable Annual Cut. This is the largest percentage of an Annual Allowable Cut that the Minister has apportioned to First Nations in the history British Columbia, representing yet another precedent forged through collaboration between the Carrier Sekani First Nations and the Province.
“Minister Conroy’s apportionment decision is a meaningful step towards true and lasting reconciliation,” said Carrier Sekani Tribal Council Chief Mina Holmes. “We finally have a say in what happens in our territories through the collaborative decision-making process set out in the precedent-setting Pathway Forward 2.0 Agreement.”
The success of this collaborative decision-making process is another step the Carrier Sekani First Nations have taken with the Province towards consent-based decision-making in Carrier Sekani Territories. The first step was taken when the Province recognized Carrier Sekani Aboriginal title and rights in the Collaboration Agreement in 2015.
The Carrier Sekani First Nations look forward to working with the Province and neighbouring local governments in building a new forest economy, creating more value from every tree harvested. Working together we can protect our stewardship values while maintaining vibrant communities.
For further information contact: Audrey McKinnon, Communications Officer, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council; communicationsofficer@cstc.bc.ca, 250-617-3862
(Unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Prince George, B.C. – Feb. 10, 2021) — Mussi cho to all the membership who attended the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council’s 38th Annual General Assembly online. More than 100 members of the Carrier Sekani Tribal Council member nations attended on Jan. 29, 2021 via Zoom, making this an engaging event and an overall success.
“On behalf of the CSTC Staff and Board of Directors, thank you for taking time to join us, we appreciate that many, if not all communities have pressing priorities and matters to attend. This online format seems to be the new standard of outreach and engagement.” – CSTC Tribal Chief Mina Holmes
Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the AGA was held online for the first time, allowing members to attend from their homes and communities. This initiative was intended to assist with social distancing and to avoid increasing the risk of infection during this global pandemic.
The eight-hour presentation was a success in large part due to CSTC staff and leadership, community members, sponsors and many contributors who joined us to share their knowledge as speakers.
Several resolutions were passed during the AGA. Because the volume of resolutions was higher than usual, which we are grateful for, and because we were not able to maintain quorum for the full length of time, some resolutions did not make it to the floor to be voted on. CSTC will inform the communities promptly on how this will be resolved and will also release the resolutions that were already voted on. Community engagement and access to information are high priorities for the Tribal Council, so we are working to ensure the remaining resolutions are handled with careful consideration. An AGA Report will be provided to the CSTC Board of Directors including resolutions and action items for the CSTC Tribal Chief and General Manager.
Tribal Chief Mina Holmes and General Manager John Lewis provided great insight into the many developments and accomplishments of CSTC in the last fiscal year, within which the CSTC member nations began to feel the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite these challenges, CSTC has continued to work tirelessly to serve the communities through projects funded by the Pathways Agreement 2.0, as well as some new initiatives designed to serve those in need of housing and access to food.
CSTC is also grateful for the contributions of Kym Gouchie, Camille Callison, Regional Chief Terry Teegee, Chief Clarence Louie, the Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Dr. Judith Sayers and Zandra Ross. Each of these contributors added their unique element of depth, inspiration, energy and wisdom to the AGA. Our theme, Resilience Through Unity: since time immemorial, was strengthened by all of their thoughtful words and care.
We thank our many sponsors for making this event possible and enriching it through the generosity of financial and material donations: Capri CMW Insurance Services, MNP Financial, Gowling WLG, Forest Eco System Solutions Ltd., TC Energy, Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance, Radloff & Associates, Royal Bank of Canada and Canfor. Because of you, CSTC was able to create an unforgettable experience during our 38th Annual General Assembly.
Finally, CSTC thanks each and every community member who made the time to engage with us through this event. All of the work we do here at CSTC is for the benefit of members and it is our pleasure to report to you and to hear your feedback whenever possible.
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(Unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Prince George, B.C. – Oct. 19, 2020) — The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) and Tribal Chief Mina Holmes stand in support of the Sipekne’katik Nation’s protected right to fish under the Constitution of Canada, and calls on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to take definitive action against escalation of destruction and violence against the Mi’kmaq people.
CSTC member nations have witnessed the apathy and inaction of RCMP in response to acts of violence towards the Mi’kmaq people. It is the responsibility of the federal government to immediately ensure Canadian laws that protect treaty rights to earn a living from fishing are enforced.
The escalating events in the Atlantic lobster fishery dispute are further revealing a deeply flawed standard of justice that is fueled by systemic racism.
Immediate action from the highest level of government must be taken as those inciting hatred and fear have instilled and perpetuated an environment of lawlessness and little action has been taken to prosecute this criminal behavior.
CSTC works hard to build on promises of reconciliation from all levels of government and continues to support meaningful progress and respect for the rights, title and jurisdiction of it member First Nations. We stand in solidarity with Mi’kmaq communities and call on the federal government to exercise its power in upholding the constitution.
Sockeye salmon run is so low, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council is forced to buy food-grade salmon to use as bait for endangered sturgeon study. CSTC calls on Fisheries and Oceans Canada to fund First Nations training to run hatcheries in their communities, in an effort to increase salmon populations.
(Unceded territory of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation, Prince George, B.C. – Sept. 3, 2020) — Carrier Sekani Tribal Council usually conducts its research on endangered white sturgeon by sourcing Sockeye salmon to use as bait from the Lheidli T’enneh or Stellako First Nations. But salmon returns are so low this year, there isn’t enough salmon to use as bait without getting it from the grocery store. It’s a symbol of just how endangered the runs are. CSTC Fisheries Program Manager Christina Ciesielski had no choice but to purchase 30 kilograms of salmon from Save-On-Foods, in order to attract juvenile sturgeon to be studied.
“It felt criminal that we’re buying these food-grade fish from a corporation to catch an endangered species that we’re studying — when there’s people in our communities who are starving. That could have fed members of our communities,” says Ciesielski.
CSTC values its ability to trade for or buy the salmon from neighbouring First Nations. “We do it to help each other out,” says Ciesielski. “We’re First Nations and we want to support other First Nations groups. It’s what people used to do and we want to keep that alive.”
The Early Stuart Sockeye Run has been reduced to a fraction of its historical peak numbers from 500,000 salmon to what’s estimated to be 16,000 this year. The Late Stuart Run and part of the Summer Run (Stellako) are also low this year at 55,000, down from a historical peak of over 1.6 million and about half the 2015 return numbers.
Ciesielski says that without rapid investment from Fisheries and Oceans Canada to train CSTC’s member nations to run new hatcheries in their communities, those numbers won’t improve.
A recent study (2009, Levy et al.) by the Upper Fraser Fisheries Conservation Alliance (UFFCA) shows that high water, high temperatures and other migration conditions have played a big part in the decline of the Early and Late Stuart Sockeye runs. Adding to that the recent Big Bar landslide and a multitude of factors in the ocean all contributing to devastating returns.
A massive landslide near Clinton, B.C. in June of 2019 created a blockage on the Fraser River and interrupted the migration of thousands of salmon populations. First Nations, provincial and federal leaders worked with scientists, engineers and emergency responders to rescue the spawning season. Click the link below to learn more about how there is renewed hope for the Endako River Chinook and other salmon populations.
Self-Screening Tool for COVID-19 for First Nation Visitors or Members Returning to Communities
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) is working closely with First Nations partners, the Public Health Agency of Canada, other departments such as Heath Canada, Public Safety and provincial and territorial counterparts to protect the health and safety of First Nations and support First Nations communities in responding to public health threats, including COVID-19.
To read the full version please click the links below.
English version: Self Screening Tool – visitors and returning members to communities_0403
Version français: Outil d’auto-observation – visteurs et membres revenant dans la communauté