Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
Encyclopedia
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council is a First Nations
Tribal Council
in the Canadian province of British Columbia
, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island
.
The northern boundary of Nuu-chah-nulth territory begins on the west coast of Vancouver Island at Brooks Peninsula and the southern boundary is at Port Renfrew. The territory extends inland about halfway across the island to encompass Gold River and Port Alberni. There are fourteen tribes that comprise the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations. These tribes share many aspects of their culture, language and traditions. Each Nation can have several "houses" that are centered on a Ha’wiih (hereditary chief) who is responsible for their Ha’houlthee (chiefly territories) (NTC, 2008).
Note: The Pacheedaht First Nation
, though Nuu-chah-nulth by culture and language, is not a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Similarly the closely related Ditidaht of the Ditidaht First Nation
and the Makah of the other side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
are not members of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
of the NTC at the present time.
The role of the NTC is to represent its member nations and provide a variety of programs and services to them. It can coordinate projects (i.e., fisheries, training), oversee issues that overlap jurisdictions and can take advantage of economies of scale or cross regional planning opportunities. As well, it can act as a sounding board and coordinator on many issues of common concern.
The NTC operates many programs that help further the wellbeing of the communities within their sphere of influence. The NTC provides programs for its members in the following areas:
- Child Welfare
- Fisheries
- Economic Development
- Membership
- Education & Training
- Financial Administrative Support
- Employment & Training
- Infrastructure Development
- Health
- Newspaper (Ha-Shilth-Sa)
- Social Development
- Teechuktl (mental health)
The NTC works with its membership through a programs/services funding formula where each nation receives some portion of their funding based on population and some portion of their funding based on program application. Some programs (child welfare, fisheries, and training) are administered by NTC staff on behalf of the bands. As treaties are negotiated or as capacities build within individual nations, new funding agreements are being negotiated annually. This is shifting the emphasis away from centralized programs towards a greater degree of band-management.
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
Tribal Council
Tribal Council
A Tribal Council is either: an association of Native American bands in the United States or First Nations governments in Canada, or the governing body for certain tribes within the United States or elsewhere...
in the Canadian province of British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is a large island in British Columbia, Canada. It is one of several North American locations named after George Vancouver, the British Royal Navy officer who explored the Pacific Northwest coast of North America between 1791 and 1794...
.
History
The Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council began as the West Coast Allied Tribes in 1958, but then incorporated as a non-profit society called the West Coast District Society of Indian Chiefs in 1973. In 2009, the name was changed to the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (NTC) (NTC, 2008).The northern boundary of Nuu-chah-nulth territory begins on the west coast of Vancouver Island at Brooks Peninsula and the southern boundary is at Port Renfrew. The territory extends inland about halfway across the island to encompass Gold River and Port Alberni. There are fourteen tribes that comprise the Nuu-chah-nulth Nations. These tribes share many aspects of their culture, language and traditions. Each Nation can have several "houses" that are centered on a Ha’wiih (hereditary chief) who is responsible for their Ha’houlthee (chiefly territories) (NTC, 2008).
Southern region
- Ditidaht First NationDitidaht First NationThe Ditidaht First Nation is a First Nations government on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-See also:*Nitinaht language*Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council*Nuu-chah-nulth-External links:*...
- Huu-ay-aht First NationHuu-ay-aht First NationThe Huu-ay-aht First Nations is a First Nations community based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. The HFN is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and is a member of the Maa-nulth Treaty Society. It has recently completed and ratified its community...
- Hupacasath First NationHupacasath First NationThe Hupacasath First Nation is a First Nations government based in the Alberni Valley on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. An alternate spelling of Hupacasath is Opetchesaht or Opitchesaht.-See...
- Tseshaht First NationTseshaht First NationTseshaht First Nation is an amalgamation of many tribes up and down Alberni Inlet and in the Alberni Valley of central Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia. They are a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council which includes all other Nuu-chah-nulth-aht peoples except...
- Uchucklesaht First NationUchucklesaht First NationThe Uchucklesaht First Nation is a First Nations government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.-See also:*Nuu-chah-nulth people*Nuu-chah-nulth language...
Central region
- Ahousaht First NationAhousaht First NationThe Ahousaht First Nation is a First Nation government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, focused on the community of Ahousaht, British Columbia. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council...
- Hesquiaht First NationHesquiaht First NationThe Hesquiaht First Nation is a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.- Introduction :...
- Tla-o-qui-aht First NationsTla-o-qui-aht First NationsThe Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations , are a Nuu-chah-nulth First Nation in Canada. They live on ten reserves along the Pacific Rim National Park on Vancouver Island, British Columbia. They are part of the Nootka Confederacy and governed by the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. There were 618 people...
- Toquaht First NationToquaht First NationThe Toquaht First Nation is a First Nations government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.- Introduction :...
- Ucluelet First NationUcluelet First NationThe Ucluelet First Nation, also known as the Yuu-tluth-aht First Nation is the First Nations band government of the Yuu-tluth-aht people in the Canadian province of British Columbia, located on the west coast of Vancouver Island on the northwest side of Barkley Sound. It is a member of the...
Northern region
- Ehattesaht First NationEhattesaht First NationThe Ehattesaht First Nation is a First Nations government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council....
- Kyuquot/Cheklesahht First NationKyuquot/Cheklesahht First NationThe Kyuquot/Cheklesath First Nation is a First Nations government based at Kyuquot, located on the outer coast of Kyuquot Sound, on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada...
- Mowachaht/Muchalaht First NationsMowachaht/Muchalaht First NationsThe Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nations are a First Nations government on the west coast of Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia...
- Nuchatlaht First NationNuchatlaht First NationThe Nuchatlaht First Nation is a First Nations government based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. It is a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council....
Note: The Pacheedaht First Nation
Pacheedaht First Nation
The Pacheedaht First Nation is a First Nation based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Although the Pacheedaht people are Nuu-chah-nulth-aht by culture and language, they are not a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and define themselves differently.Our...
, though Nuu-chah-nulth by culture and language, is not a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council. Similarly the closely related Ditidaht of the Ditidaht First Nation
Ditidaht First Nation
The Ditidaht First Nation is a First Nations government on southern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada.-See also:*Nitinaht language*Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council*Nuu-chah-nulth-External links:*...
and the Makah of the other side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca
Strait of Juan de Fuca
The Strait of Juan de Fuca is a large body of water about long that is the Salish Sea outlet to the Pacific Ocean...
are not members of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council.
Roles and Responsibilities
The NTC provides programs and services to approximately 8,000 registered members, of which about 2,000 live off reserve (NTC, 2008a). The Central Region is by far the largest componentof the NTC at the present time.
The role of the NTC is to represent its member nations and provide a variety of programs and services to them. It can coordinate projects (i.e., fisheries, training), oversee issues that overlap jurisdictions and can take advantage of economies of scale or cross regional planning opportunities. As well, it can act as a sounding board and coordinator on many issues of common concern.
The NTC operates many programs that help further the wellbeing of the communities within their sphere of influence. The NTC provides programs for its members in the following areas:
- Child Welfare
- Fisheries
- Economic Development
- Membership
- Education & Training
- Financial Administrative Support
- Employment & Training
- Infrastructure Development
- Health
- Newspaper (Ha-Shilth-Sa)
- Social Development
- Teechuktl (mental health)
The NTC works with its membership through a programs/services funding formula where each nation receives some portion of their funding based on population and some portion of their funding based on program application. Some programs (child welfare, fisheries, and training) are administered by NTC staff on behalf of the bands. As treaties are negotiated or as capacities build within individual nations, new funding agreements are being negotiated annually. This is shifting the emphasis away from centralized programs towards a greater degree of band-management.
Structure and Administration
The Nuu-cha-nulth Tribal Council draws on the resources of fourteen tribes to provide staff and expertise. Not all staff, however, are members of its member nations. The NTC is presided over by a President, Vice-President and an Executive Director. To ensure all areas have access to the administrative body, staff positions are organized to ensure staff coverage for all regions. These include office managers for the Southern and Central Region and Northern Region, secretaries, receptionists and a file clerk. The NTC Board of Directors is composed of the elected Chiefs from each Nation.Sources
Ecotrust Canada. Sharmalene Mendis-Millard, "Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council," in Daniel Arbour, Brenda Kuecks & Danielle Edwards (editors). Nuu-chah-nulth Central Region First Nations Governance Structures 2007/2008, Vancouver, September 2008.See also
- Pacheedaht First NationPacheedaht First NationThe Pacheedaht First Nation is a First Nation based on the west coast of Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada. Although the Pacheedaht people are Nuu-chah-nulth-aht by culture and language, they are not a member of the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council and define themselves differently.Our...
- Makah
- Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development CorporationNuu-chah-nulth Economic Development CorporationThe Nuu-chah-nulth Economic Development Corporation was incorporated in 1984 under the Canada Corporations Act as a not-for-profit organization. Although it is not tied directly to the NTC, it was formed to help the Nuu-chah-nulth people achieve economic and social independence by providing...
- List of tribal councils in British Columbia