Committees

The governing institutions of the Selkirk First Nation include the Assembly, the Council, the Elders Council, the Family Heads, and the Justice Council. Each institution exercises its authority and fulfills its responsibilities in accordance with the Selkirk First Nation Constitution. All actions are carried out with honesty, good faith, and with the best interests of the Selkirk First Nation in mind.

The Assembly may be either a General Assembly or a Special Assembly that is composed of all Selkirk First Nation Citizens who are of voting age. A General Assembly is called by the Elders Council at least once every year and serves as the forum where the audited financial statements of Selkirk First Nation are presented by third party auditors. A Special Assembly may be called at any time and is held only for the specific business for which it was convened. The capacity, duties, powers, and responsibilities of the Assembly are outlined in the Selkirk First Nation Constitution.

Elected by the citizens, the Council carries out the business of the First Nation in a fair, dutiful, and ethical manner. The Council’s responsibilities include managing the property, interests, and affairs of the Selkirk First Nation, all of which are reported to the Assembly. Guided by the traditions and values of the First Nation, the Council’s primary role is to plan, lead, organize, and oversee the business of the First Nation.

The Council consists of the Chief, two Wolf Councillors, two Crow Councillors, one Elder Councillor, and one Youth Councillor. The Chief, Youth Councillor, and Elder Councillor may belong to either clan. The Council elects a Deputy Chief from among its members and may set the term of office.

A general election for the Council is held every three years on the first Wednesday of April. Citizens 18 years of age or older may vote in the election.

The Elders Council plays a vital role in preserving the Selkirk First Nation’s language, traditions, customs, and culture. Elders were, and continue to be, the threads of our community, holding it together. Their roles are an extensive list of responsibilities that assist in the safekeeping of the traditional cultural ways.  Elders hold knowledge and are our history keepers.

The duties, powers, and responsibilities of the Elders Council are outlined in the Selkirk First Nation Constitution, reflecting the traditions of compassion and respect, which guide the other governing institutions.

The Elders Council consists of the Citizens who are 55 years old and older. A qualified Citizen is entitled to be a member of the Elders Council for life.  The Elders Council appoints an Elder to be the Principal Elder. The role of the Principal Elder is outlined in the Selkirk First Nation Constitution.

The Family Heads consist of one Family Elder and one Family Spokesperson. The family determines who will hold these roles, and may change either position at any time, with notification to the Selkirk First Nation Administration. The Family Heads are grouped into 14 named families.

• Alfred
• Johnson
• Blanchard/Baum
• Jonathan/Silas/Simon
• Edwards/Johnny
• McGinty
• Harper
• Roberts/Luke
• Isaac
• Sam
• Joe (Danny)
• Silverfox/TomTom
• Joe(Tommy)
• Van Bibber

As a governing institution, the Family Heads make recommendations to the Council with respect to the annual budget of the Selkirk First Nation and offer on other financial matters. They also play a key role in selecting the Assembly Chairperson, appointing the Auditor, recommending candidates for Boards and Committees, and monitoring the implementation of Assembly resolutions by the Selkirk First Nation.

Selkirk First Nation has established a Justice Committee to research the requirements for establishing the Justice Council and identify the programs and services needed to support the administration of justice.

Once established, the Justice Council will serve as the independent judicial authority of the Selkirk First Nation; it will be made up of an equal number of members from the Wolf Clan and the Crow Clan. The Justice Council’s jurisdiction will determine the appropriate response to complaints and public safety concerns of the community. Upon request, it will also have the authority to hear, mediate, adjudicate or resolve any disputes. The Justice Council shall seek individuals with a strong reputation for honesty, fairness, high moral standards, compassion, and strong work ethic for appointment to the Council.

As part of our ongoing commitment to self-governance, Selkirk First Nation has established a number of committees to ensure the effective operation of our community. These committees play a vital role in shaping policies, guiding decision-making, and ensuring that the needs and aspirations of our people are met. Each committee is focused on a key area of governance, from managing finances and elections to promoting wellness, education, and youth development. Together, they support a balanced, transparent, and responsive government that is grounded in our traditions and values.

Active Committees include:

• Finance committee
• Constitution committee
• Resolution committee
• Election committee
• Wellness committee
• Educational committee
• Citizenship Committee
• Youth committee
• Lands committee
• Wellness committee

The Selkirk First Nation Citizenship Committee is a five-member body, consisting of three Elders appointed by the Elders Council and two Citizens appointed by the Selkirk First Nation Council. The Citizenship Committee reviews enrollment applications and provides recommendations to the Council regarding their acceptance or denial. To fulfill this responsibility, the Committee researches family trees on a continuous basis.

To contact the Citizenship Committee regarding the enrollment of yourself or a family member with the Selkirk First Nation, please email Diana Dawson at dawsond@selkirkfn.com or Jerry Alfred at alfredjerry@selkirkfn.com.

It is important that all enrolled citizens keep their address up to date with Selkirk First Nation for key mailout containing information regarding our government operations and citizen focused programing.

Contact us if you need to update your address.

The Constitution Committee is established by Council. The committee is responsible for developing recommendations for amendments to both the Constitution and legislation, as well as overseeing the implementation of provisions set out in our Constitution and legislation. Its goal is to improve the operation of our Constitution, strengthen our governing institutions, and support the effective governance of the First Nation.

As part of its mandate, the Committee will develop recommendations for a legislated Code of Conduct, amendments to the Election Act, and provisions in our Constitution related to the Elders Council and the Family Heads. The Committee will also propose measures to enhance Citizen participation in Selkirk governance, including engagement in Council activities and decision-making. Additionally, it will work on legislation to support the implementation of Article 11.0 of the Constitution regarding the Justice Council, as well as the interpretation and implementation of sections 4.2 and 5.2 concerning Honorary Citizens. The Committee may also address other matters as assigned by the Council or an Assembly.

Selkirk First Nation is currently recruiting to fill three vacancies on this committee.
Contact: Diana Dawson, Governance Director at:
dawsond@selkirkfn.com | (867) 537-3331 Ext. 203

The Education Committee is responsible for administering the Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP). The Committee has the authority to review and recommend student applications for funding, as well as make additional recommendations to Council as outlined in the Policy.

The Committee may prioritize courses of study identified by Council that align with the economic and environmental needs of the First Nation.

Selkirk First Nation is currently recruiting to fill vacant spots on this committee.
Contact: Diana Dawson, Governance Director at:

dawsond@selkirkfn.com | (867) 537-3331 Ext. 203

The Justice Committee is tasked with developing recommendations to Council on the application and implementation of Article 11.0 of our Constitution. This includes recommending amendments to the Constitution and related Selkirk legislation as deemed appropriate by the Committee. The Committee is also responsible for advising on the scope, design, and implementation of Selkirk’s programs and services for the administration of justice, as well as any other matters related to the administration of justice that may be referred to the Committee by Council for its recommendations.

Contact: Lois Joe, Justice Coordinator at:

justicecoordinator@selkirkfn.com | (867) 537-3331 Ext. 611

The Selkirk First Nation Resolution Process and Resolution Committee were established by the Selkirk First Nation 2021 General Assembly. The primary responsibility of the Resolution Committee is to oversee all aspects of the resolution process, including finalizing and presenting resolutions for consideration at the next Assembly.

The Committee is composed of three Citizens nominated and appointed by the Assembly, along with two alternate members, who will serve as the first and second alternates to the Committee. Each Committee member’s term of appointment lasts from the adjournment of the Assembly at which they were appointed until the adjournment of the next Assembly.

Contact: Diana Dawson, Governance Director at:

dawsond@selkirkfn.com | (867) 537-3331 Ext. 203

To become a Selkirk First Nation Citizen, you can apply by sending an email to the Enrollment Officer Jerry Alfred at alfredjerry@selkirkfn.com,or call the Selkirk First Nation Administration Office at (867) 537-3331.

Links

• Final Agreements
• Constitution