October 22, 2021
Cranbrook/ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit – On October 21, 2021, the nasuʔkins of the four Ktunaxa
Nation governments representing the communities of Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡiʾit (Tobacco Plains),
ʔakisq̓nuk First Nation, Yaqan Nuʔkiy (Lower Kootenay) and ʔaq̓ am, sanctioned the
suspension of the treaty negotiations process and related work being undertaken by the
Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Council. This suspension will be in place until the Ktunaxa
governments can determine their approach to achieving self-government, now that the
context has changed significantly.
With legislation now in place acknowledging the rights
of Indigenous peoples, the nasuʔkins agree that this decision will provide the necessary
time and space to hear from the Ktunaxa governments’ people, and to undertake a
restructuring of this important work for and with Ktunaxa citizens.
The Ktunaxa leadership that comprises the Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Financing
Committee acknowledge they have always stated that the B.C. Treaty Process was the
only option available to them aside from litigation. Some believe they have achieved all
that they can through these negotiations.
There is a tremendous amount of good work that has been done thus far to be built
upon, and the hope is to continue that work in a way that respects and honours the
needs and vision of Ktunaxa citizens for the future, while honouring the work that has
been done in past.
No further comment is available at this time.
