Government and Industry
Additional Information
The political landscape is changing. The Traditional leaders are exerting their powers and having their voices heard when it comes to their traditional territory.
This workshop will explain the traditional structure of the Kwakwaka'wakw people (starting from the Comox in the south and to the Gwa'sala in the north.) There are similarities between the Kwakwaka'wakw and the 'Wuikinuxv of Rivers Inlet and the Haíɫzaqv of Bella Bella.
Many Nations will have Land and Resource Offices or be part of an umbrella organization, such as Nanwakolas. These offices, however, only speak from the voices and authority of the elected chief and council.
The elected body only has the authority over the parcels of Indian Reserves that are attached to the elected body of chief and council. These parcels of land are part of the bigger traditional territory that the traditional leaders have authority over. In reality, the traditional leaders can trump decisions made by chief and council, when it comes to the Indian Reserves.
This part of the workshop is based upon our ̕Na̱mima, clan structure of each Nation that is part of the bigger Kwakwaka'wakw group.
