In-SHUCK-ch Nation

Governance

"In-SHUCK-ch Flag shows In-SHUCK-ch Mountain, with the canoe which was saved there after the great flood. Canoe is in 3 sections, representing the 3 In-SHUCK-ch nations, and the 8 wave crests represent the other 8 nations of the Stl'atl'imx tribe meaning that In-SHUCK-ch solidarity strengthens and reinforces Stl'atl'imx solidarity."

By General Assembly resolution in 2005, the In-SHUCK-ch Nation was declared and In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government (INIG) was established as governing body, mandated to define, exercise and protect the title and rights of the Nation and its citizens. INIG was further directed to implement the Nation using the 7 Generations Plan. INIG is made up of the elected leadership of Xa'xtsa (Douglas) and Samahquam, and the traditional leadership of Skatin.

Notwithstanding the 2005 general assembly resolution, In-SHUCK-ch Nation has no legal standing, and will not, until the effective date of treaty. This was, and remains an impediment to achieving real progress. For this reason, the Nation has established and maintains a number of "affiliations", to receive and manage treaty funds, and to receive and manage economic development funds, and to receive and manage operational funding. These affiliations enable the In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government to be recognized.

Yearly, decision making begins and ends at the In-SHUCK-ch Nation General Assembly when budgets are approved and annual reports are presented. The In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government renews its mandate each year at the In-SHUCK-ch Nation General Assembly when its Senior Managers present work plans, budgets, and progress reports.

The In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government shares authority with the General Assembly for approving annual operating budgets but the Chiefs Executive Committee is responsible for operational decision making with In-SHUCK-ch Senior Managers.

To assist In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government to fulfill its obligations, it has established three separate entities which are: In-SHUCK-ch N’Quatqua Treaty Resource Incorporated (or INTRI), In-SHUCK-ch Service Society (or ISS), and In-SHUCK-ch Development Corporation (IDC). The directors for each of the entities come from the In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government.

The three entities separate the functions of the In-SHUCK-ch Nation Interim Government. INTRI was established to receive funding from the BC Treaty Commission in order to participate in the BC treaty process. ISS was established to receive funding and grants to help maintain and preserve the In-SHUCK-ch culture and heritage. And, IDC is the business arm of In-SHUCK-ch Nation.

The In-SHUCK-ch administrative staffing has a structure of: Senior Mangers, Department Managers and staff. Senior Mangers is composed of Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Negotiator. The Department managers are from the respective departments identified in the organization chart.

Senior Management is the conduit between the governing body and the administrative staff and provides direction through the Department Managers, who are delegated the daily supervision of the administrative staff.

The bands remain under the jurisdiction of the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. They have joined together to work on plans to meet the needs of all three communities for both the present and the future. INIG meets on a regular basis to review the direction of the treaty processes, current issues affecting the traditional territory and potential economic opportunities. For In-SHUCK-ch governance is more than government, it’s also about coming together and supporting relationships for positive change.