NEW RELATIONSHIP TRUST
TLOWITSIS ELDERS GOVERNANCE PROJECT
GOVERNANCE WORKSHOP REPORT
Report Submitted by Tlowitsis Nation
Project Contact:
Blake Robichaud
105-1022 Pandora Ave
Victoria, BC V8V 3P5
250-590-5042
blake.robichaud@tlowitsis.com
January 15, 2010
Background
This report summarizes the results of the four preliminary governance workshops
(deliverable #1) conducted in Vancouver, Campbell River, Port Hardy and Alert Bay from
December 4-7th, 2009. These initial discussions engaged nine Tlowitsis Elders:

Louis Joseph, Jasper Jospeh Sr. and Charlotte Joseph (Vancouver)

Anna Thomas, Thomas Smith, Alec Smith, John Smith (Campbell River)

Wata Jospeh (Port Hardy)

Cecil Wadhams (Alert Bay)
Outcomes
The following provides an overview of the outcomes from each regional governance
workshop. These preliminary core principles will be adjusted and refined to incorporate
perspectives emerging from the Tlowitsis Elders Gathering (TEG).
Vancouver
Charlotte, Jasper, Louis

Fairness. The management of the Nation’s affairs should not privilege certain
families at the expense of others. It is important that benefits and opportunities
are equitably distributed among the membership.

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions. The
hereditary system is integral to the identity and history of the Nation. It is
important for future governance models to preserve and incorporate aspects of
this traditional system.

Community expectations for representatives. It is important for
representatives at all levels of government to possess the skills and
competencies required for effective leadership. This includes both formal
education (ie. college, university) and ‘cultural competence’ (ie. knowledge of the
history and traditions of the Nation)

Unity of purpose. It is important for the Nation’s representatives to work
towards a common purpose. This common purpose should, above all else, be
concerned with the welfare of ‘of the people’.
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Campbell River
Anna Thomas & Thomas Smith

Inclusiveness. The governance of the Nation must be participatory, with an
overarching goal to include the diverse perspectives of the membership in the
management of the Nation’s affairs.

Transparency. It is fundamental that the membership understands the process
through which their representatives make decisions. It is important that this
process is clearly articulated before decisions are made.

Community expectations for representatives. Representatives must be
culturally competent and adequately trained to ensure that they are able to
perform their job well. These considerations apply equally to both leaders and
other representatives from the community at-large.

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions.
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Campbell River
Alec Smith

Unity of purpose. ‘Once a decision is made, move on’. It is critical for decisions
made by representatives to be accepted as final once the process is complete in
order to prevent factionalism within the community.

Stability. Elections in reserve communities are extremely problematic and
should be rejected by a future Tlowitsis governance model. Two-year terms
prevent representatives from following through on their work and delay the
potential for development.

Respect. Representatives should conduct themselves in a respectful manner
before, during and after a decision is made.

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions.
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Campbell River
John Smith

Community expectations for representatives. Representatives should have
traditional knowledge and formal training.

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions. Tlowitsis
must reject elections to prevent assimilation and preserve the identity and
traditions of the Nation.

Consensus. In the past, decisions were made through consensus between
lesser chiefs and hereditary chiefs. Tlowitsis should preserve this traditional form
of decision-making.
Port Hardy
Wata Joseph

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions. Tlowitsis
should reject elections and preserve certain aspects of the hereditary system.
This includes the incorporation ‘house representatives’ from each family as part
of the governance structure.

Fairness. In the villages, the hereditary chief looked after all the people, not just
his family. It is important for future leaders to do the same.

Transparency. The management of the Nation’s affairs must be clearly defined
and open for review by the community.

Community expectations for representatives. Representatives must be
‘culturally competent’ and adequately skilled through formal training and
traditional teachings.

Stewardship of land, sea and air. Tlowitsis have a responsibility to manage
and protect their traditional territories. Representatives must always consider
this responsibility in the decisions that they make.
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
Replacement of leadership. Historically, the community could choose to
replace their leaders based on their performance. In this case, an “apprentice”
(someone possessing traditional training and knowledge) would replace the
current leader.

Unity of Purpose. In the villages ‘everyone worked together’.
Alert Bay
Cecil Wadhams

Support for the preservation of hereditary governance traditions.

Stewardship of the Land, Sea and Air.

Unity of Purpose.

Fairness. In the future, it is important for the government to operate in an
equitable way that truly represents the interests of all Tlowitsis families.
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