In-SHUCK-ch Nation

Our councils began organizing as the Douglas, Skookumchuck and Samahquam Indian bands, in the early 1980s around the question of title. They saw this as the way to bring attention to the need for rebuilding our communities, improving our roads and creating and sustaining an economy – and finally, for bringing our people home.

The three bands’ work in the1980s, beginning with our councils, and then involving our members, in general assemblies, laid the groundwork for entering the treaty process, which we did, on Dec. 15, 1993. In fact, ours was the very first formal Statement of Intent to Negotiate a Treaty to be received by the BC Treaty Commission.

The Peoples of the In-SHUCK-ch, in general assembly in 2005, formally declared the In-SHUCK-ch Nation, established the In-SHUCK-ch Council as governing body, and mandated their leadership to define, exercise and protect their title and rights, and to implement the nation using the 7 Generations Plan.

By December of 2009, negotiations resulted in a tabling by BC and Canada, of their Closing Elements document, which summarized the agreement around substantive issues, including land, cash and governance.

While closing negotiations were occurring, Xa’xtsa members voted to withdraw. On Dec. 18, the Samahquam and Skatin leadership confirmed that they are still the In-SHUCK-ch Nation, and that they still carried their mandate to define, exercise and protect the title and rights of the Nation and its citizens.

Whatever Xa’xtsa’s determination in the matter of treaty, we are all of the In-SHUCK-ch family, and of the N'kuktsa division the Stl’atl’imx.

In-SHUCK-ch traditional territory [see map] includes the upper Harrison Lake and lower Lillooet River drainages, and our communities are situated within the lower Lillooet River valley. At present we number over 900, with ¾ of our people living away from our territory.  It is on this basis that In-SHUCK-ch Nation will conclude treaty negotiations while respecting Xax’tsa interests.