The Tla'amin Nation, formerly known as the Sliammon First Nation, is a self-governing Modern Treaty Nation located in the qathet region on British Columbia's Sunshine Coast. Their traditional territory encompasses the area around Powell River, including parts of Lasqueti and Texada Islands, and extends through Cortes Island and the Comox Valley. With approximately 1,200 citizens, the Tla'amin Nation is a vibrant and active Indigenous community with a rich history, culture, and a forward-looking approach to self-determination.
A Legacy of Self-Governance: The Tla'amin Treaty
A defining characteristic of the Tla'amin Nation is their Modern Treaty, which officially took effect on April 5, 2016. This historic agreement with Canada and British Columbia marked a fundamental shift from the Indian Act to a self-governing model. The Tla'amin Treaty grants the Nation significant authority over its lands, resources, and governance, empowering them to make decisions that directly benefit their people and shape their future.
Key aspects of their self-governance include:
- Jurisdiction: Authority over areas like lands, resources, education, health, and justice within their treaty lands.
- Law-Making Power: The ability to enact their own laws, which have the force of federal and provincial law, allowing them to tailor regulations to their unique cultural values and needs.
- Fiscal Relations: A new fiscal relationship with Canada and BC, providing stable and predictable funding to support their government and programs.
- Relationship with Crown: A renewed government-to-government relationship with Canada and British Columbia, moving beyond the colonial legacy of the Indian Act.
Mission and Vision: Preserving Culture, Ensuring Well-being, and Building a Sustainable Future
While an explicit mission statement for the entire Nation isn't always publicly detailed in short summaries, the Tla'amin Nation's overall vision and work are clearly focused on:
- Preserving and revitalizing Tla'amin language, culture, and traditions: This is fundamental to their identity and sovereignty.
- Ensuring the health, well-being, and prosperity of their citizens: Providing comprehensive services and opportunities.
- Exercising their inherent rights and self-governance: Taking control over their destiny and resources.
- Stewarding their traditional lands and waters: Protecting the environment for future generations in accordance with Tla'amin law and values.
- Fostering strong relationships: Building respectful and mutually beneficial relationships with surrounding communities, governments, and partners.
Core Areas of Governance and Services:
The Tla'amin Nation government provides a comprehensive range of services and programs to its citizens, reflecting its self-governing authority:
-
Governance and Administration:
- Hegus (Chief) and Executive Council/Legislators: A democratically elected government responsible for decision-making and strategic direction.
- Financial and Accounting: Managing the Nation's finances transparently and responsibly.
- Membership and Citizenship: Managing Tla'amin citizenship and status card services.
- Communications: Keeping citizens and the public informed through channels like the "Nehmotl Newsletter" and their website.
-
Lands and Resources:
- Land Management: Administering building permits, harvesting permits, and overseeing land use planning within their territory.
- Environmental Stewardship: Protecting land and sea in accordance with Tla'amin law. This includes initiatives like their Salmon Hatchery, demonstrating their commitment to restoring vital ecosystems.
- Referrals: Engaging with external agencies and governments on land and resource matters impacting their territory.
- "tiskʷat" Site Reconciliation: A significant ongoing effort, involving a Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of B.C., to further economic reconciliation and environmental stewardship at the former mill site (tiskʷat), which was their principal settlement from which they were forcibly removed in the late 1880s. This is a critical step in addressing historical wrongs and rebuilding a sustainable future for the Nation.
-
Community Services:
- Housing: Managing housing enquiries, applications, and support for home ownership and rentals.
- Social Assistance: Providing essential support for citizens in need.
- Public Works: Managing infrastructure and community services (e.g., drinking water, waste management).
- Child and Family Services: Providing culturally appropriate support and care for Tla'amin children and families.
-
Health and Education:
- Tla'amin Health: A dedicated health department providing community health services, including potentially primary care, mental health support, and wellness programs. They operate clinics and health facilities.
- Ahms Tah Ow School: Their own school, providing education grounded in Tla'amin culture, language, and values.
- Post-Secondary Education Services: Supporting Tla'amin citizens in pursuing higher education through applications, registrations, and financial assistance.
-
Justice Programs:
- Tla'amin Justice Program: Incorporating Tla'amin Community Justice Circles into diversion measures, probation supervision, and alternative measures for members. They work with justice stakeholders to promote healing and cultural relevance in the justice system.
- Adult and Youth Programs: Offering pre- and post-charge diversion, restorative justice circles, and liaison services with the Ministry of Children and Family Development Youth Probation.
- Criminal Courts Support: Assisting clients in navigating criminal and family courts, understanding their Gladue rights, and accessing legal aid. They also work with the Virtual Indigenous Justice Centre to provide legal services to Indigenous clients in underserved areas.
-
Cultural Activities and Preservation:
- Language Revitalization: Efforts to preserve and teach the Tla'amin language.
- Cultural Programs: Organizing activities that celebrate and pass on Tla'amin traditions, stories, and practices.
- Hereditary System: While operating under a modern governance structure, the Nation also respects and integrates its hereditary system and traditional governance where appropriate.
Impact and Significance: A Model of Indigenous Self-Determination
The Tla'amin Nation stands as a powerful example of Indigenous self-determination in Canada. Their Treaty and subsequent self-governance have enabled them to:
- Reclaim Agency: Take control over decision-making that directly impacts their lives and lands.
- Drive Economic Reconciliation: Actively pursue economic opportunities that align with their values, such as the tiskʷat site revitalization.
- Strengthen Cultural Identity: Revitalize language, traditions, and governance systems.
- Improve Well-being: Provide tailored health, education, and social services that better meet the needs of their citizens.
- Foster Reconciliation: Serve as a leading example of how modern treaties can advance reconciliation between Indigenous peoples and the Crown.
- Contribute to Broader Society: Share their knowledge and governance models, contributing to a more just and equitable society in British Columbia and Canada.
Visit the Tla'amin Nation Facebook page to connect with them.
