FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Territory of the Nine Allied Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams
April 7, 2025
Lax Kw’alaams Hereditary and Elected Leaders sign Governance Accord and Announce a Historic Referendum to Approve Written Constitution
The Governance Accord establishes an important formal and productive relationship between hereditary and elected leaders, inclusive of shared decision-making, in a hybrid governance model for the integrity of Lax Kw’alaams territory. The Governance Accord also serves as a solemn and incremental step in the constitutional journey.
The signed Governance Accord is a commitment to members and the community from hereditary leaders of the Allied Ts’msyen Tribes and Lax Kw’alaams elected Council to work together to uphold the integrity of Lax Kw’alaams territory and nurture the deep, inalienable and foundational relationship to its lands and waters.
Lax Kw’alaams First Nation is poised to implement self-determination under its inherent right and authority, combining ancient traditional and contemporary forms of governance, deeply rooted in its history and culture. Both the Governance Accord and the proposed Constitution offer a united path forward to protect and affirm Lax Kw’alaams title to its territories.
The Lax Kw’alaams Constitution has been years in the making, shaped by knowledge keepers, fluent language speakers, hereditary leadership, constitutional experts and most importantly, by an extensive community engagement process. This community engagement process has lasted over three years, resulting in a revised Constitution based solely on community feedback.
The written Constitution lays out a legal framework, from founding provisions and rights and responsibilities to government structure and law-making. It also enshrines the best practice of cooperation and collaboration between ancient forms of governance like the Hanaa’nax and Galmalgyax, combined with elected officials, through a new shared law-making and decision-making governance structure.
“Our Allied Tribes leaders have rightful authority, and we (the elected leadership) need to work closely together. We are proud to work together in both the Governance Accord and the proposed Constitution. The Constitution will make it final law that we must work together.” Said Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece. “Under the Indian Act, we are limited. It’s tough to create wealth for our people. This is our solution going forward to address this and all of Council supports this, and many respected Hereditary leaders support this.”
The Allied Ts’msyen Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams never ceded, surrendered or extinguished their inherent right to govern their Laxyuup territory. The proposed Constitution provides the highest written expression of their laws, which reflects their paramount values. It is intended to support and guide current and future generations in the governance of the Lax Kw’alaams people. Both the Governance Accord and the proposed Constitution reaffirm the responsibility to continue to defend and advance Allied Ts’msyen Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams title and inherent rights, protect their relationship to their territory, and work collaboratively in the best interest of the Laxyuup of the Allied Ts’msyen Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams.
Mayor Reece stated “Council does not want to make any more decisions on our territory without our hereditary leaders – we commit to that and to moving forward united. We have formalized our promise from Council that we will not make any decisions on the territory without our Allied Tribes.”
Media contact
Heather Haughian
Manager of Communications and Public Relations
Lax Kw’alaams Band
[email protected]
About Lax Kw’alaams Band
The Lax Kw’alaams Band is a First Nations government located on the North Coast of British Columbia, with a membership of over 4,100 people.
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