If your First Nations community wishes to consider assuming jurisdiction over K-12 on-reserve education and join the negotiation process it must become a Negotiating First Nation (NFN).
In order to become a Negotiating First Nation you must:
- Pass a BCR to become an Interested First Nation (IFN). This will allow you to come to IFN meetings and receive updates on the negotiation process. Here is a template Band Council Resolution to become an IFN.
- Meet the required criteria to become an NFN.
- Pass a BCR to appoint an individual to negotiate jurisdiction agreements on behalf of your band. Here is template BCR to appoint the community’s jurisdiction coordinator/negotiator and set the mandate for negotiations.
If your community would like more information on jurisdiction over First Nations education or would like to invite someone to speak about jurisdiction in your community, please contact the Jurisdiction Communications Coordinator.
Who is already involved?
The BC jurisdiction negotiations currently involve a total of 69 First Nations. 56 of those are Interested First Nations. This formally indicates that they plan to negotiate a Canada First Nation Education Jurisdiction Agreement and ultimately become a Participating First Nation.
The following 13 First Nations are Negotiating First Nations:
- Ahousaht First Nation
- ?Aq’am
- Canim Lake Band
- Cowichan Tribes
- Ditidaht First Nation
- Fort Nelson First Nation
- Heiltsuk Band
- Kispiox Band
- Lil’wat Nation
- Lower Kootenay Indian Band
- Seabird Island Band
- Snuneymuxw First Nation
- Tse-Shaht First Nation