Title & Rights Overview

Title & Rights | Tsúwa7 Lhkalh ta Tmixwa

Tsúwa7 Lhkalh ta Tmixwa – Our Land – is the name of our department in St̓át̓imcets. The name was given to us by Arthur Adolph, Xaxli’pmec. It is what grounds of our overall purpose in Title & Rights work. St’át’imc Territory is unceded land that continues to be lived on by the people of our land.

The purpose of the department is to continue the work of our ancestors, the unwritten Kúkwpi7 (Chiefs) of the 1911 Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe of “claiming we are the rightful owners of our tribal territory, and everything pertaining thereto. We have always lived in our country; at no time have we ever deserted it, or left it to others.”

It is Tsúwa7 Lhkalh ta Tmixwa goal to strengthen and support leaderships efforts to uphold St’át’imc Nation’s authority over its tmicw (land) and resources. Through Tsúwa7 Lhkalh ta Tmixwa, our department protects the Territory for úcwalmicw and all living and non-living inhabitants who rely on the relationship with our tmicw

Picture (on left) is of pqus – Bald Eagle – and was taken by Raquel Kane.

Our department’s main priority is to support the St’át’imc Chiefs Council (SCC) in their work for upholding St’át’imc Title, Rights, and jurisdiction. This work is possible through the SCC and SGS service agreements (March 2016 & 2018). The work we support in Title & Rights, includes:

• Upholding the Declaration of the Lillooet Tribe (May 10, 1911).
• Upholding the St’át’imc Unity Declaration (May 10, 1911).
• Upholding St’át’imc Title & Rights to the Territory.
• Advocating and showing St’át’imc unity to all levels of government and industry.
• Communicating the work both Title & Rights department and the SCC are doing to the members.
• Supporting the creation of St’át’imc Laws & Nation Policy.
• Supporting the criteria development of Nationhood and how it relates to St’át’imc at the government-to-government table.
• Ensuring the St’át’imc tmicw stewardship laws and values protect co-existing inhabitants and their way of life.
• Educating St’át’imc members on St’át’imc Title, Rights, and jurisdiction.
• Exploring ways to move forward with a St’át’imc holistic approach.
• Increasing the use of our authentic St’át’imc language.