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Council of the Haida Nation
The Council of the Haida Nation (CHN; Haida: X̱aaydaG̱a Waadlux̱an Naay) is the elected government of the Haida Nation, the Indigenous occupants of the Haida Gwaii archipelago in the Canadian province of British Columbia. The council consists of a president and vice-president elected by popular vote, twelve regional representatives from four electoral regions, and one appointed representative from each of the Old Massett Village Council and Skidegate Band Council.[3] The Haida Nation is engaged in a legal title dispute regarding their territories, the islands of Haida Gwaii and surrounding waters, asserting that the Crown has never legally acquired title to these areas, and has illegally infringed upon Haida title and rights within the territories through the imposition of Canadian sovereignty and the extraction of resources under Canadian authority.[4] There are two main Haida villages on Haida Gwaii: G̱aw, known in English as Old Massett, and Hlg̱aagilda, known in English as Skidegate. Haida populations in Kxeen and T'agwan are also represented on the Council of the Haida Nation. The CHN recognizes the separate jurisdiction of the Kaigani Haida, in southern Alaska, who are members of the Haida Nation, but are governed by the Central Council of the Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska. All Haida territories were in the past also claimed by Russia and Spain as well as the United States. Once Russian and Spanish claims to Haida Gwaii were given up in treaties with Britain and the United States, the islands continued to be claimed by the United States until the British claim to them was formalized by the creation of the Colony of the Queen Charlotte Islands in 1853. Russian claims to Kaigani Haida territory were sold to the United States in 1867 with the Alaska Purchase. The Council, formed in 1974, has been involved in many conflicts over the fate of its territories, which have been part of Canada since 1871, and by the Colony of British Columbia and the Colony of the Queen Charlotte Islands prior to that. No treaties between the Crown and the governments of the Haida were ever signed, as with many other Indigenous groups in British Columbia. The Constitution of the Haida Nation was accepted formally in 2003.The Haida Nation asserts that the Crown has never legally acquired title to Haida Gwaii and its surrounding waters. They claim that the imposition of Canadian sovereignty and the extraction of resources under Canadian authority are illegal infringements on Haida title and rights. This is a clear assertion of their sovereignty and a challenge to the existing state sovereignty, a hallmark of autonomist movements.[5] EnvironmentThe Haida Gwaii islands are one of the richest marine and terrestrial environments on earth. The Haida people are a product of their environment; thus their culture is an emanation of respect and gratitude for their provider, the land and sea. The archipelago consists of over 200 islands and is located off the coast of British Columbia, Canada. As a result of its location, the western coast of Haida Gwaii is exposed to very strong winds and ocean waves of up to 35 metres (115 ft) high.[citation needed] The average yearly rainfall on the western coast is 4 metres (157 in), compared to 80 centimetres (31 in) on the eastern coast.[6] The Haida Nation encompasses the Haida Gwaii archipelago and surrounding water. This includes the Dixon Entrance, half of the Hecate Strait, half the distance to Vancouver Island, and westward from the land toward the Pacific Ocean.[3] MandateThe Mandate is an order for the Council of the Haida Nation. The Council follows the Mandate to the best of their abilities. The Mandate acknowledges the following :
LanguagesThe constitution acknowledges the Haida language (X̱aad Kil and X̱aayda Kil) and English as the official languages of the Haida Nation.[3] GovernanceThe House of Assembly is a legal form of Haida National government. This group has the right to pass laws which align with the Constitution of the Haida Nation. The House of Assembly meets yearly with the Council of the Haida Nation. These meetings occur in October during the third week of the month. Each yearly meeting alternates between G̱aaw (Old Masset) and Hlg̱aagilda (Skidegate). In addition to the House of Assembly meetings, the Council of the Haida Nation meet quarterly with Haida citizens.[8] The Vice President calls the House of Assembly meeting twenty days before the meeting date. They may also call other meeting dates if required, again, at least twenty days before the scheduled date. All motions placed through the House of Assembly can only be approved by a vote of three-quarter approval or more.[8] SecretariatThe Council of the Haida Nation sustains a Secretariat. The duties of the Secretariat are as follows: the Secretariat answers to both the House of Assembly and the Council of the Haida Nation, the Secretariat acts as Treasurer and will manage the staff of the Council of the Haida Nation, and the Secretariat has multiple rights to the credit of the Council of the Haida Nation.[8] Subsidiary bodies (Village Councils)The Village Councils are concerned with the well-being of the communities and Band members. The Village Councils may initiate laws.[9] Skidegate Band CouncilChief Councillor: Billy Yovanovich[9] Councillors: Duane Alsop, Lyndale George, David Crosby, Michelle McDonald, Trent Moraes, Michelle Pineault, Robert Russ.[10] Old Masset Village CouncilChief Councillor: Donald (Duffy) Edgars Councillors: Brodie Swanson (Deputy), Lisa White, Cecil Brown, Ashley Jacobson, Robert Brown, Brodie Swanson, Benjamin Edgars[9] CitizenshipThe Haida citizenship act was approved on 31 May 2017. When accepted as a Haida Nation citizen, one receives both a Card and a Certificate. The card is used for identification purposes, and the certificate is the official citizenship document.[11] The Constitution of the Haida Nation states that the title of Haida Gwaii Citizen may be given to an individual who does not have Haida ancestry. This title does not include receiving Haida indigenous rights or Haida heritage claims.[3] References
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