We, the Northern Secwépemc te Qelmúcw have an inherent right to govern ourselves. NStQ citizens and leaders past and present have chosen a Treaty with Canada and British Columbia as the path to transition out of the Indian Act and back to self-government. On three occasions the people gave direction to the leadership to move forward in the Treaty Process.

1. In 1994, when the people voted to begin the treaty negotiations.
2. In 1998, when Esk’etemc chose the leave the treaty process, the communities again decided to continue on, and
3. In 2016, when the people voted in favor of the agreement in principle.

Through the Northern Shuswap Treaty Society, our four communities, Xatśūll, Tsq̓éscen’, Stswecem’c-Xget’tem, and Williams Lake First Nation, have chosen to unite and work together to combine our common goal of the people making decisions for the people.

Ours was and will be a government structure based on our Secwépemc culture, rooted in the land, in the language, and in the respect we have for one another.

The NStQ Leadership Council members meet monthly. It was formed to guide and provide oversight of treaty-related decisions. All chiefs and council members are members of the Leadership Council, which must have at least two representatives from each community to reach quorum and make decisions. Community members are also welcome to attend this meeting.

NStQ citizens and leadership will work within a governance model that will have authority over areas affecting the everyday lives of community members. This will include Housing, Child and Family Jurisdiction Transition, Infrastructure, local Economic Development, and Land Use on Treaty Settlement Lands owned by that community. The people will also see changes in the administration of programs. These can include certification of Aboriginal healers within NStQ territory, accreditation of Secwépemc language teachers within NStQ territory, NStQ elections, administration of citizenship, relations with other levels of government, common Stewardship issues, and joint economic development initiatives agreed to by the communities. Once NStQ reaches a Treaty agreement, citizens will vote on the agreement.