Lax Kw’alaams, BC – April 7, 2025 – A powerful move toward Indigenous sovereignty is unfolding on Canada’s West Coast, where hereditary and elected leaders of the Lax Kw’alaams First Nation have signed a groundbreaking Governance Accord and announced a historic referendum to adopt a written Constitution.
The model—blending traditional governance with modern elected leadership—could serve as inspiration for First Nations across Northwestern Ontario, where similar discussions around inherent rights and self-governance are gaining momentum.
The signed Accord formalizes cooperation between the hereditary leadership of the Allied Ts’msyen Tribes and the elected Lax Kw’alaams Council. It ensures that no decisions will be made on Lax Kw’alaams territory without shared input—an approach deeply rooted in traditional governance systems, yet structured for modern application.
“This is a turning point for our Nation,” said Lax Kw’alaams Mayor Garry Reece. “We’ve long known that the Indian Act limits our ability to govern ourselves and build wealth for our people. This Constitution is our response—it gives us the legal foundation to move forward as one.”
Much like the Lax Kw’alaams effort—where knowledge keepers, elders, and fluent language speakers shaped the Constitution through a multi-year consultation process—First Nations in the Thunder Bay area are engaging youth, elders, and community members in governance planning rooted in Anishinaabe and Cree law.
The Lax Kw’alaams Constitution, now headed to referendum, outlines a legal framework of shared authority between hereditary and elected officials. It embeds traditional governance models like the Hanaa’nax and Galmalgyax into law alongside elected leadership—a concept gaining traction among nations looking to reclaim governance systems eroded by colonialism.
For Thunder Bay readers, this development underscores a growing national movement: Indigenous nations asserting their inherent rights and re-establishing culturally grounded legal systems. As the Lax Kw’alaams people take this monumental step, their journey offers a roadmap for others—particularly those in Northwestern Ontario seeking governance rooted in community voice, tradition, and sovereignty.
