2019/2020 Tāłtān Contents STAFF MESSAGES Message from the President . 1 2019 Achievements . 3 Message from the Vice President . 5 Message from the Secretary Treasurer . 7 Message from the Executive Director . 8 TCG Board of Directors . .. 10 DEPARTMENT REPORTS Lands Department & THREAT . 13 Klappan Plan . 19 Archaeology Update/Review . 21 Jade and Placer Update . 25 Wildlife Department . 27 Fisheries Department . 33 Culture & Heritage Department . 43 Education & Training Department . 47 Employment Department . 51 OnTrack Unveiling . 53 Contracting & Business Development Department . 55 Northwest Hydroelectric Facilities Purchase . 65 Membership & Genealogy Department . 67 Communications Department . 71 Tahltan Central Government Rebranded . 75 Tahltan Nation in the News . 81 Fibre-Optic Connectivity . 94 UPDATES Tahltan Socio-Cultural Working Group Update . 97 3 Nations Update . 99 UNDRIP and Update . 103 STAFF & CONTACTS INFO Staff & Contacts Information Chart . 109 TCG Organizational Chart . 111 TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT Together we’re moving in the right direction Tahltan Nation, “It is important that we recognize We are currently living in truly unprecedented times. and thank all Tahltans who I must commend the Dease Lake, Iskut and Telegraph continue to occupy and live in Creek Emergency Management Committees and everyone in the Province and around the world, our homeland. Their ongoing particularly the medical personnel and essential habitation, coupled with their workers, who have dedicated themselves to keeping us safe. A special thank you also goes out to everyone ongoing practice of our culture, who assists our Tahltan people and communities are essential requirements for Chad Norman Day during this challenging time. the Tahltan Nation to maintain President, Tahltan Central Government It is important that we recognize and thank all our collective Rights and Title.” Tahltans who continue to occupy and live in our homeland. Their ongoing habitation, coupled with Being the leader of TCG and spokesman for the their ongoing practice of our culture, are essential Tahltan Nation is an enormous responsibility that I requirements for the Tahltan Nation to maintain our take very seriously. I do my best to lead by example collective Rights and Title. Mēduh to all community through hard work and collaboration, living a healthy members, workers, leaders and everyone who lifestyle, staying true to my commitments, and being positively contributes to the residents of Dease Lake, a dedicated and loving family man. Last summer I Iskut and Telegraph Creek. It is extremely important married my lovely wife, Sharmaine Diesta Day, who that we always have healthy Tahltan communities is an incredibly positive influence on all aspects of and support their ongoing growth and development. life, including family, work and health. My children Malakai (14), Montay (12), Nahlin (10) and Nethenion More than ever this year’s TCG Annual General Report (8) get along wonderfully with Sharmaine, particularly showcases that Together We Are Strong. The 2019/ my daughter who thoroughly enjoys the additional 2020 Annual Report highlights the myriad of TCG female energy and companionship in our household. accomplishments and future plans, including those from If you happen to see Sharmaine, feel free to introduce each of TCG’s departments, some of which have been yourself; she is a playful, caring and positive person recently created, restructured or transferred. who gets along with everyone and enjoys meeting our Tahltan people. Our accomplishments over the past year were a collaborative effort that One of the most important responsibilities we oversee as leaders is to properly govern over the relationships included our TCG Family, other Tahltan and agreements we have with outside governments governments/entities, outside partners and organizations, neighbouring nations, industry and, of course, internally amongst our Tahltan and all those Tahltan people who entities, working groups, communities and members. actively participate in our decision- Implementing internal policies and accountability measures is onerous at times, but upholding high making processes or contribute to our standards and discipline helps strengthen and prepare homeland in other ways. us for the challenges we face externally. TCG and our governors are here because the Tahltan We have continually strengthened our governance and people entrusted us to protect and enhance Tahltan capacity in this respect by updating and creating new Rights and Title on their behalf. We understand that policies and agreements that bring more structure our people also expect us to provide meaningful and certainty around these relationships and any opportunities and benefits to all Tahltan people; we difficulties that may arise. strive to make this happen every day. 1 “This is truly an exciting time in Tahltan history and I hope that together we continue to use all the opportunities and resources at our disposal to empower ourselves, our families, our communities and our people, collectively, as a strong, Above: President Day meeting with Alex McPherson at a drill site on Crystal Lake Mining's Newmont Lake Property. proud and united Tahltan Nation.” Alan McPherson (center) co-owns and operates Swiftsure Diamond Drilling Ltd., a Tahltan JV. Our work at TCG continues to become more initiatives and historical new agreements such to empower ourselves, our families, our multifaceted as our government grows and as the Klappan Plan. We transformed and communities and our people, collectively, as evolves and as we become more meaningfully improved the way we interact with the mineral a strong, proud and united Tahltan Nation. involved at the highest levels with government, exploration industry, mining companies, industry, and other important organizations the tourism industry and resident hunters In closing, let us welcome and celebrate across British Columbia and Canada. Luckily, in Tahltan Territory. Lastly, we are working all the new Tahltan babies born into our we have built an amazing team of about 25 diligently to overhaul or shut down other beloved Nation, and congratulate all those employees, several key experts, negotiators operations and companies that do not respect Tahltan people who accomplished exciting and legal professionals, and our TCG Board Tahltan Law and/or TCG policies, such as jade milestones in their lives over the past year, of Directors is contributing more than ever and placer operations. whether it be related to their education, through additional committee work, conference employment, health or personal life. calls, meetings and communication efforts There are so many opportunities available with their respective family members. I refer to in Tahltan Territory and we have growing I also want to acknowledge and honour all this collection of people as our TCG Family and financial and human resources in place the Tahltans that we lost over the past year, we are extremely proud of the character, work to support our people. I am excited about particularly Roy Quock and Violet Carlick – ethic and collaborative environment that we OnTrack, the Tahltan Skills Inventory, which the eldest Patriarch and Matriarch of the enjoy together. will provide Tahltans with better access to Tahltan Nation. Our hearts go out to all those the many jobs available in our Territory. I who continue to mourn a loved one or face The number of Tahltan people becoming encourage Tahltans everywhere to always other struggles in their lives. meaningfully employed, running successful take the time to read our communication businesses and pursuing higher education materials (e.g. newsletters, website, Let us continue working together, and training rises each year. Revitalizing, social media, press releases, etc.) and to supporting one another, remaining united recording and making language and culture participate in TCG meetings and decision- and working hard to make our children, available to all Tahltan people continues to be making processes, including those that Elders and ancestors proud. Tahltan Strong! a priority; we have big plans in the coming year. will soon happen more often through your We made wise and significant investments respective Family Representatives. This is Klane Nedischā. in clean energy projects and provided long truly an exciting time in Tahltan history and term protection to large areas of Tahltan I hope that together we continue to use all the Territory through ongoing land use planning opportunities and resources at our disposal 2 TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT – ANNUAL REPORT 2019/2020 Together we achieved great things in 2019 Klappan Plan Northwest Hydroelectric Facilities Tahltan Foundation Klappan Plan signed with the Biggest clean energy investment by a First Nation in BC history Tahltan Heritage Trust assets Provincial Government. and one of the biggest in Canadian history. The Tahltan Nation climbed to approximately $40 million are now the proud owners of 5% of the Northwest Hydroelectric following the AltaGas deal, which *Land-use plan aimed at preserving Facilities (an asset valued at more than $2.5 billion). triggered community meetings the Klappan Valley’s cultural and and the establishment of a Tahltan environmental assets and guiding *Dividends will begin immediately, will increase every Foundation that will hopefully be up future resource development. year, and will be used to invest in our three communities and running sometime