Kitselas Treaty and Kitsumkalum Treaty Negotiations

Home Engagement Opportunities Kitselas Treaty and Kitsumkalum Treaty Negotiations

On this page…

Treaty progress overview
The Nations
Summary of treaty negotiations
Overview of treaties
Recent engagement
What’s next
About modern treaties
Resources

open

Overview

Who: Kitselas First Nation and Kitsumkalum First Nation, the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia

What: Treaty negotiations

Where: Northwest B.C.

Why: Constitutionally protected agreements that set the relationship to work toward common goals of reconciliation and recognition of First Nations rights and title, to partner on shared priorities and to create jurisdictional and operational certainty in the region

How: In-person, online

Category: Reconciliation Initiatives

Treaty progress overview

Since the early 1990s, Kitselas First Nation (Kitselas) and Kitsumkalum First Nation (Kitsumkalum) have been involved in treaty negotiations with the Government of Canada (Canada) and the Province of British Columbia (B.C.).

Although the two First Nations negotiated their treaties together at a common table, the negotiations will result in two distinct, separate treaties: the Kitselas Treaty and the Kitsumkalum Treaty.

Negotiations have now concluded, and the parties are ratifying each treaty through their respective processes and preparing to move to stage 6 – Implementation of the Treaty – of the B.C. Treaty process. Read more about that process here.

On June 24, 2024, Chief Negotiators from all three parties – Kitselas, B.C. and Canada – initialled the Kitselas Treaty.

On June 25, 2024, Chief Negotiators from all three parties – Kitsumkalum, B.C. and Canada initialled the Kitsumkalum Treaty.

Initialling marked an important milestone in the treaty journey, as it signalled the conclusion of substantive negotiations. Initialling was subject to important caveats, including Canada and B.C. fulfilling the duty to consult other First Nations and the completion of a final legal review of the treaties.

The legal and technical reviews of the Kitselas Treaty and Kitsumkalum Treaty concluded in 2025, resulting in ratification versions that reflect revisions to the two treaties and appendices based on these post-initialling reviews as the resolution of a number of outstanding matters. Since then, minor change negotiations have been ongoing as outlined in the General Provisions Chapter each treaty. At the same time, Crown consultation with neighbouring First Nations has remained ongoing.

Read the ratification version of the Kitsumkalum Treaty: A Living Agreement (PDF, 3MB) and Kitsumkalum Treaty: A Living Agreement Appendices (PDF, 20MB). Please note these versions of the Treaties and Appendices replaces the previous initialled versions.

A Kitsumkalum Atlas (PDF, 29MB) contains several maps that are in addition to the appendices to better show map boundaries.

Read the version of the Kitselas Treaty (PDF, 2.4MB) and Kitselas Treaty Appendices (PDF, 18MB) introduced in the B.C. Legislature on April 15, 2026. Please note this version of the Kitselas Treaty and Appendices incorporates minor changes agreed to by the parties and replaces the “ratification version.”

After the conclusion of negotiations, as well as the legal and technical review of the treaties, each treaty must go through a ratification process – a process that takes several more years.

In 2025, the First Nations began the ratification process with eligible voters from each First Nation voting overwhelmingly on favour of ratifying their respective treaties and self-government constitutions – Kitselas on April 10 and Kitsumkalum on November 1.

The next step in the process is for B.C. to ratify each treaty. On April 15, 2026, B.C. introduced provincial treaty implementation legislation — the Kitselas Treaty Act, 2026 — in the B.C. Legislature as the first step in the provincial government’s ratification of the Kitselas Treaty. B.C. aims to introduce the Kitsumkalum Treaty Act in the Legislative Assembly in 2026 as part of provincial ratification.

The Nations

Kitselas and Kitsumkalum are members of the Tsimshian First Nations Treaty Society, which represents multiple Tsimshian Nations whose combined territory spans the northwest coast and the lower Skeena River, including the Prince Rupert and Terrace areas. Members of the Society are negotiating separate treaties or reconciliation agreements.

Their shared language, Sm’algyax, is a dialect of the Tsimshian language. In Sm’algyax, Gitselasu (Kitselas) means ‘people of the Canyon’ referring to the Kitselas Canyon, and Gitsm’geelm (Kitsumkalum) refers to the riffles in the water as it runs over the rocks, while another description refers to ‘people of the Plateau .

Kitselas First Nation has a population of approximately 745 members. Most live on the Kitselas reserve of Gitaus, a 15-minute drive east of Terrace, or in Kulspai, a smaller reserve south of Terrace.

Kitsumkalum First Nation has a population of approximately 825 members, with approximately a third living on reserve, a 10-minute drive west of Terrace.

Both Kitselas and Kitsumkalum are active in the regional economy and have positive and long-standing relationships with local governments.

Summary of treaty negotiations

Kitselas and Kitsumkalum entered treaty negotiations in the early 1990s.

The treaty table includes Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Canada, B.C., the BC Treaty Commission, the Tsimshian First Nations Treaty Society and a representative from the Kitimat-Stikine Regional District.

In 2015, negotiators for Kitsumkalum First Nation, Kitselas First Nation, Canada, and B.C. signed Agreements-in-Principle (AIP) with each First Nation, establishing agreement on the substantive elements to be detailed in the completed treaties. In the years since, B.C., Kitselas, and Kitsumkalum have engaged with all levels of government, industry, interest holders, and people in the region on various elements of the treaties.

Initialling the treaties in 2024 signalled the conclusion of substantive negotiations, subject to certain caveats such as legal and technical review and ongoing consultation with neighbouring First Nations.

Legal and technical reviews concluded in January 2025 for the Kitselas Treaty and in June 2025 for the Kitsumkalum Treaty, resulting in ratification versions of each treaty and appendices. Consultation with neighbouring First Nations is ongoing.

These steps set the stage for an approval process called ratification, in which the First Nation, B.C. and Canada each undergo their own respective processes to seek approval to sign the treaty and for B.C. and Canada to pass treaty implementation legislation. Ratification is the approval process that treaties must go through before they can come into effect.

In the first step of ratification, eligible voters of the Kitselas First Nation and the Kitsumkalum First Nation each held a vote on whether or not to approve their respective treaty and self-government constitution. Ratification of the treaty and constitution requires a double majority vote outcome by eligible voters. This means more than 50% of eligible voters on the voters list must cast a ballot, and more than 50% of those voters must cast a ballot in favour of the treaty and constitution.

On April 10, 2025, Kitselas First Nation held their ratification vote for eligible voters, who voted in favour of ratifying their treaty and self-government constitution. Of the more than 95% of eligible voters who voted on the treaty and constitution, 85% voted “yes” on the treaty and 81% voted “yes” on the constitution. Based on these results, the ratification vote thresholds were met.

On November 1, 2025, Kitsumkalum First Nation held their ratification vote for eligible voters, who voted in favour of ratifying their treaty and self-government constitution. Of the 705 eligible voters, 625 cast ballots on the treaty with 569 (approximately 91%) voting “yes;” 629 cast ballots on the constitution, with 563 (approximately 89.5%) voting “yes.” Based on these results, the ratification vote thresholds were met.

Overview of the treaties

Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, B.C. and Canada have been negotiating the agreements in stages. Each stage has included engagement with the public and interest holders. Local government representatives have also sat at the negotiation table as part of the provincial negotiating team. This approach provided opportunities for people and key interest holders to share their needs and help shape treaty provisions that work for all. Crown consultations with neighbouring First Nations have also been ongoing throughout each stage of the negotiations. This process aims to ensure that potential adverse impacts on the rights of neighbouring First Nations are avoided, mitigated or otherwise accommodated, where appropriate.

As a result, the treaties reflect work done together on shared regional priorities established in the 2015 AIPs.

The Kitselas Treaty and Kitsumkalum Treaty will:

Ensure Aboriginal rights are recognized and not extinguished or modified for Kitselas and Kitsumkalum and describe the parties’ agreement on the exercise of rights
Clarify that the treaties do not affect or recognize the rights of neighbouring First Nations
Lay out negotiated approaches to self governance and law-making authorities
Confirm lands to be owned and governed by each First Nation
Address existing interests and tenures on proposed treaty lands (interest-holders have been engaged on the proposed approach to their tenure or interest)
Allow public access on non-private treaty lands for hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing and other recreational use
Formalize consultation processes with Kitselas and Kitsumkalum moving forward, and
Describe opportunities for the co-management of lands and resources within the First Nations’ traditional territory

The B.C. treaty negotiations process has always been guided by the principle that private property (fee simple land) is only contemplated on a willing-buyer, willing-seller basis. Private fee simple property rights are protected through this process. The proposed treaty lands for the Kitselas Treaty and the Kitsumkalum Treaty do not include private property, unless already owned in fee-simple by the First Nation.

More information about the Kitselas Treaty and Kitsumkalum Treaty can be found in the following fact sheets:

Recent engagement

In the spring of 2023, Kitselas, Kitsumkalum, Canada and B.C. engaged with local communities in the region.

Members of the public joined the treaty partners at an open house in May 2023 to find out more and share input on the two proposed treaties. In June 2023, treaty table representatives held a virtual open house for the public. These sessions took place as negotiations moved to the final stage and included information about lands proposed to become Treaty Lands. 

A What We Heard Report was developed from discussions with the public on the closing of treaty negotiations. This report describes the engagement activities and participation, and includes feedback and questions collected during the engagement process along with responses given by the negotiating partners. 

Read the What We Heard Report (PDF, 1MB)

Over the past several years, correspondence has been sent to, and meetings have been held with, interest and tenure holders to discuss forms of replacement tenures and the arrangements for continuation of interests such as water licenses and traplines.

In the lead up to provincial ratification of each treaty, the parties engaged with various provincial and local organizations, local governments, interested parties and interest holders to update them on the status of the ratification process, respond to questions and continue the province’s ongoing communication with interested and affected parties.

Throughout the next steps of this process, there will be further opportunities for regional and public engagement, as well as ongoing consultation with neighbouring First Nations.

What’s next

There are several steps in the ratification process that need to be completed before the treaty could coma into effect.

The ratification process, which follows the initialling of the treaty, takes a number of years.

With eligible voters of Kitselas First Nation and Kitsumkalum First Nation voting in favour of ratifying their respective treaty and self-government constitution First Nation ratification of each treaty is complete

The provincial treaty implementation legislation and the treaty itself are debated in the legislature by elected members of the Legislature. If this legislation passes and is enacted, the elements of the provincial implementation legislation that bring the treaty into effect will not be brought into force on Royal Assent, but rather by regulation at a later date in coordination with the parties.

After the passage of provincial enabling legislation, the next step would be for all parties to sign the treaty.

Canada then would continue its ratification process through the introduction and passage of federal treaty implementation legislation in Parliament.

Ratification is fully complete when the treaty is signed and provincial and then federal treaty implementation legislation is passed and brought into force on the treaty effective date, which is typically a few years after the legislation is given Royal Assent. Once agreed to by all parties, the effective date is set and typically occurs following a transition period after Royal Assent has been granted. This transition period allows all parties to be prepared for the treaty’s implementation.

The parties will conduct ongoing public engagement during this period, so everyone who is potentially impacted by the treaty is kept informed. For the treaty to be fully ratified and come into effect, Canada and B.C. will also need to have met their duty to consult with neighbouring First Nations. This process currently remains ongoing.

Make sure to sign-up for email updates to find out about future engagement opportunities and key milestones in treaty negotiations: Kitselas.Kitsumkalum@gov.bc.ca.

About modern treaties

Treaties signed today are known as modern treaties. Modern treaties in B.C., other than the Nisg̱a’a treaty, are negotiated under the B.C. treaty process, facilitated by the British Columbia Treaty Commission. Negotiations for the Nisg̱a’a Treaty, which became the first modern treaty in B.C. in 2000, began before the establishment of and were outside of the B.C. treaty negotiations process.

Treaties are comprehensive, living agreements protected under the Canadian constitution. A result of long-standing and comprehensive discussions, treaties address a wide range of interests and are an important part of advancing reconciliation and recognizing First Nations’ inherent rights, including self-determination.

Treaties are an important part of Canada and B.C.’s work to advance reconciliation guided by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action

Modern treaties outline the First Nation’s responsibilities and jurisdictions over treaty lands, such as ownership, access, governance, taxation and environmental management. Treaties empower First Nations to step out of the Indian Act’s legislative control. As living agreements, these treaties do not freeze rights in time. Rather, they are stable and positive foundations from which First Nations can build partnerships, expand economic development and support their community’s social well-being.

Modern treaties are one pathway for reconciliation that promote collaboration and increase certainty. Treaties recognize that all forms of government are stronger working together and help build a brighter future for everyone. Treaties provide certainty, ending the application of laws and policies that deny equal opportunity and reconcile First Nations rights with other rights, rather than replacing or extinguishing those rights.

By bringing together First Nations, Canada and B.C. for formal negotiations with public consultation, modern treaties are also an opportunity for local communities to share their needs and challenges to shape treaty provisions. As a result, modern treaties provide significant benefits for all people in their regions, enable stronger community bonds, and support plans to work together on shared priorities.

Examples of benefits that have come from modern treaties include:

Local Investment: Treaties include funding from the federal government which are invested by First Nations directly in B.C.’s local communities, including funding education, cultural vitality, land and water-management, homes for people and economic development to build strong, safe and healthy communities.1
Social Well-Being and Empowerment: Treaties include protection and revitalization of First Nations culture, language and heritage. Canada’s Community Well-Being Index (CWB) shows overall higher well-being in modern treaty regions following the conclusion of a treaty.
Economic Opportunity and Prosperity: Modern Treaty Nations are diversifying local economies in culturally relevant ways, helping build B.C.’s strong, sustainable, clean economy. Modern treaty settlements continue to be a meaningful driver of economic benefits for First Nations, and for communities around the province.
Services People Rely On: Treaties enable First Nations to develop revenue streams and build capacity in critical services such as housing, health care and education.
Protecting our Land, Water and Resources: Treaties contain provisions that enable local communities and First Nations to work together to ensure local land, water and resources are managed sustainably.

¹Deloitte (2025) “Financial Benefits of Modern Treaties in British Columbia” (PDF, 16.4MB)

Resources

British Columbia Treaty Commission (Treaty Commission)
Kitselas First Nations Treaty page
Kitsumkalum First Nations Treaty page
Kitselas Agreement-in-Principle (signed September 4, 2015)
Kitsumkalum Agreement-in-Principle (signed September 4, 2015)
About Tsimshian First Nations Treaty Society (B.C.webpage)
About Kitselas First Nation (B.C.webpage)
About Kitsumkalum First Nation (B.C.webpage)
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
B.C. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

News releases

Kitselas Treaty Act introduced in B.C. legislature (April 15, 2026): https://news.gov.bc.ca/33624
Minister’s statement on Kitsumkalum Treaty and Constitution vote outcome (November 2, 2025): https://news.gov.bc.ca/32989
Info bulletin on upcoming ratification vote for Kitsumkalum Treaty, Constitution (October 27, 2025): https://news.gov.bc.ca/32968
Minister’s statement on Kitselas Treaty and Constitution vote outcome (April 11, 2025): https://news.gov.bc.ca/32217
Info bulletin on upcoming ratification vote for Kitselas Treaty, Constitution (April 4, 2025): https://news.gov.bc.ca/32189
Initialling draft Kitsumkalum Treaty news release (June 25, 2024): https://news.gov.bc.ca/31158
Initialling draft Kitselas Treaty news release (June 24, 2024): https://news.gov.bc.ca/31160
Public update information bulletin on treaty negotiations in Skeena region (June 18, 2024): https://news.gov.bc.ca/31123
Public results information bulletin (February 14, 2024): https://news.gov.bc.ca/30297
Public invitation information bulletin (May 18, 2023): https://news.gov.bc.ca/28820