Nadleh Whut’en, Saik’uz, and Stellat’en First Nations are working together to develop our own Membership Codes.
Band Membership is managed under colonial policies created by the Government of Canada through the Indian Act.
All First Nations automatically go by these rules to manage membership, unless they adopt a custom Membership Code.
The Membership Code Development project is about supporting each of our Nations to develop a community-led Membership Code that reflects our unique values, priorities, and identities.
Although we are working together on this project, each Nation will create and adopt its own custom Membership Code through extensive member input and a community vote.
What is a Membership Code?
A Membership Code is a formal set of rules applicable to a specific First Nation. These rules address questions and topics such as:
- Who is eligible for band membership
- How to apply for band membership
- How decisions are made
- How decisions can be reviewed or appealed
- How to voluntarily give up band membership
A Membership Code contains rules concerning Band Membership for a specific Nation; adopting these rules will not affect anyone’s legal standing under the Indian Act. Currently, the federal government has the sole authority to determine who qualifies for Indian status.