Letter from the Elected and Hereditary Leaders of Gitxaała Nation on the Proposed Kitselas Treaty Bill
LAX KLAN, DOLPHIN ISLAND, B.C. – April 27, 2026 – We write to you today as one single, aligned voice upholding our Gitxaała Ayaawx – the laws, jurisdiction, and responsibilities by which we govern ourselves. Gitxaała rights to self-determination and self-government have been ignored by your government as BC has chosen to prioritize one Nation’s rights over the rights of other Nations, including Gitxaała. We have expressed our concerns many times to many different representatives of your government, yet our voices and positions have been ignored by the Government of British Columbia. We write today to the entire BC Legislative Assembly to ensure our Nation’s rights, title, and laws are upheld.
As Bill 21 approaches a second reading and debate of the Kitselas First Nation Treaty, British Columbia has not received Gitxaała’s free, prior, and informed consent. We are steadfast in our position that our free, prior, and informed consent includes meaningful agreements between Gitxaała and the Kitselas Nation, and meaningful agreements with BC and Canada that address the impact that the Kitselas Treaty will have on our constitutionally protected rights and title.
In their current form, the Kitselas Treaty and others in your government’s queue will provide Kitselas and other Nations with lands, harvesting rights, and law-making jurisdiction within Nɫuut’iksgm Laxyuubm Gitxaała (Gitxaała territory). Previously, Gitxaała provided both Canada and British Columbia with Treaty Response Reports that document the degree to which the proposed Treaties adversely impact the Aboriginal title and rights held by Gitxaała. The response has been inadequate.
Our Nation has been clear that by enacting the Kitselas Treaty, the Government of British Columbia will put in place both immediate and future impacts that are immeasurable. As the Treaties are broad in scope and indefinite in duration, it is impossible to state with certainty all potential adverse impacts that the Treaties could have on Gitxaała rights and title. However, we know for certain that among the impacts, there are unquestionable impacts on the Nation’s rights and title, through the transfer of lands, the granting of harvesting rights, law-making authority, and cultural authority to lands, waters, and resources within Nɫuut’iksgm Laxyuubm Gitxaała. To date, offers of accommodation by BC have been disrespectful.
Our Nation has been working on solutions to these issues. We have attempted to address our concerns by working with both the Provincial and Federal Governments, and in direct Nation-to-Nation discussions with Kitselas. However, the introduction of Bill 21 has highlighted the bad-faith nature of these discussions. The Government has made it clear that its commitment to gaining the Nation’s free, prior, and informed consent has again been ignored. This unilateral process BC has chosen to prioritize Kitselas Treaty rights over Gitxaała rights and title can only be interpreted as an infringement of our rights.
Gitxaała has been clear that all governments and Nations must acknowledge and respect Gitxaała Adaawx, Ayaawx, and Gugwilx’ya’ansk. Respecting our laws means working with our Nation to address concerns on how these treaties will give other Nations lands, harvesting rights, and governance rights in Laxyuubm Gitxaała at the expense of Gitxaała rights and title. There is important work for our government to complete, there are arrangements with BC, Canada, and Kitselas that need to be finalized with Gitxaała. As such, our Nation is calling on each Member of BC’s Legislative Assembly to acknowledge and respect our laws and jurisdiction, and our efforts to negotiate solutions, by calling for an immediate pause to Bill 21 — the Kitselas Treaty Act.
About Gitxaała Nation
The people of the Gitxaała Nation have lived on the North Coast of British Columbia, including the Prince Rupert Harbour Area, since time immemorial and are one of the most ancient societies in the region.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Tyler Pronyk
Coast Communications and Public Affairs
tyler@coastcomms.ca
Tel: 604-807-0710