Tŝilhqot’in Nation signs historic Coordination Agreement with Canada and British Columbia towards First Nations-led child and family services
May 9, 2025 — Williams Lake, British Columbia — Tŝilhqot’in Nation, Indigenous Services Canada and the government of British Columbia
“Tŝilhqot’in Nidlin” – “We are Tŝilhqot’in”
The Tŝilhqot’in Nation has always asserted its inherent right to self-government, including jurisdiction, over its children and families – a right affirmed with the signing of a historic Coordination Agreement between the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, Canada and the Province of British Columbia using the framework provided by An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families.
Together, the Nitsilʔin-Qi (Council of Chiefs) for the Tŝilhqot’in Nation, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services and the Honourable Jodie Wickens, B.C. Minister of Children and Family Development signed a Coordination Agreement; a key milestone on the path of transforming the lives of the Tŝilhqot’in people and the relationship with the Crown.
The agreement establishes responsibilities and processes for providing the coordination services to Tŝilhqot’in children and young adults. It outlines a way forward that honours past, present, and future generations of the Tŝilhqot’in Nation for whom raising healthy and thriving children is a fundamental right and core to their identity, responsibilities, and law as Tŝilhqot’in people.
This year, Canada will provide $35.2 million toward, amongst other things, the delivery of prevention, governance, dispute resolution, community navigator and post majority support services in the initial phase of Tŝilhqot’in jurisdiction. The Province of British Columbia will provide $766,222 to support Tŝilhqot’in jurisdiction.
Through this transition there will be strong collaboration with Denisiqi Services Society, and the province, to continue to deliver protection services under provincial law to all Tŝilhqot’in on and off reserve as the Tŝilhqot’in Nation builds capacity to exercise full jurisdiction under the Tŝilhqot’in law.
On April 1, 2025, the Tŝilhqot’in Nation enacted their children and families law – Tŝilhqot’in ʔEsqax Sutsel Jeniyax (Tŝilhqot’in children growing up in a good way) as the foundation for exercising its inherent jurisdiction and to establish a new model of care for Tŝilhqot’in children, youth and families grounded in Tŝilhqot’in teachings and values.
For the Tŝilhqot’in People, the Coordination Agreement is formal recognition of their right to protect and care for their children based on traditional teachings and values.