2023 Annual Report

Tāłtān

1910 Declaration of the Tahltan Tribe

We the undersigned members of the Tahltan Tribe,

speaking for ourselves, and our entire tribe, hereby make known to all whom it may concern, that we have heard of the Indian Rights movement among the Indian tribes of the Coast, and of the southern interior of B.C. Also, we have read the Declaration made by the chiefs of the southern interior tribes at Spences Bridge on the 16th July last, and we hereby declare our complete agreement with the demands of same, and with the position taken by the said chiefs, and their people on all the questions stated in the said Declaration, and we furthermore make known that it is our desire and intention to join with them in the fight for our mutual rights, and that we will assist in the furtherance of this object in every way we can, until such time as all these matters of moment to us are finally settled.

We further declare as follows:

FIRSTLY – We claim the sovereign right to all the country of our tribe—this country of ours which we have held intact from the encroachments of other tribes, from time immemorial, at the cost of our own blood. We have done this because our lives depended on our country. To lose it meant we would lose our means of living, and therefore our lives. We are still, as heretofore, dependent for our living on our country, and we do not intend to give away the title to any part of same without adequate compensation. We deny the B.C. government has any title or right of ownership in our country. We have never treatied with them, nor given them any such title. (We have only very lately learned the B.C. government makes this claim, and that it has for long considered as its property all the territories of the Indian tribes in B.C.)

SECONDLY – We desire that a part of our country, consisting of one or more large areas (to be selected by us), be retained by us for our own use, said lands and all thereon to be acknowledged by the government as our absolute property. The rest of our tribal land we are willing to relinquish to the B.C. government for adequate compensation.

THIRDLY – We wish it known that a small portion of our lands at the mouth of the Tahltan river, was set apart a few years ago by Mr. Vowell as an Indian reservation. These few acres are the only reservation made for our tribe. We may state we never applied for the reservation of this piece of land, and we had no knowledge why the government set it apart for us, nor do we know exactly yet.

FOURTHLY – We desire that all questions regarding our lands, hunting, fishing, etc., and every matter concerning our welfare, be settled by treaty between us and the Dominion and B.C. governments.

FIFTHLY – We are of the opinion it will be better for ourselves, also better for the governments and all concerned, if these treaties are made with us at a very early date, so all friction, and misunderstanding between us and the whites may be avoided, for we hear lately much talk of white settlements in the region and the building of railways, etc., in the near future.

Signed at Telegraph Creek, B.C., this eighteenth day of October, nineteen hundred and ten, by NANOK, Chief of the Tahltans

NASTULTA, alias Little Jackson

GEORGE ASSADZA, KENETL, alias Big Jackson And eighty other members of our tribe.

Contents

Message from the President

Chad Norman Day President, Tahltan Central Government

Many things have changed since the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) composed our last Annual General Report. I have officially completed my ninth consecutive year as your TCG President and it has been the most challenging year so far from a governance standpoint. The TCG’s governance is at the foundation of all major decisions we make as a government with the Tahltan people’s collective title and rights. Making good decisions which serve the best interests of the Tahltan people comes with a great deal of responsibility and requires a lot of hard work and dedication.

Board to continually adjust to a new environment when incoming board members were added. For the first time in our central government’s history, the majority of TCG’s Board of Directors and Family Representatives do not reside in Tahltan Territory; this creates its own set of challenges as well. We must always acknowledge that our local Tahltan members continue to uphold our collective title and rights by occupying our homeland and they are disproportionately impacted by all decisions made by the TCG. Therefore, more than ever, the TCG Leadership and Family Representatives must improve engagement efforts with our local Tahltan entities, communities and families.

I must personally apologize to the TCG staff and their families for all the added difficulty and uncertainty we have had to endure over the past year. Thank you for your patience and support through all the changing dynamics and continued growth of the TCG. Many of you motivate and inspire me and the Leadership more than you will ever know. I want all Tahltan people to know that I am committed to improving our internal governance so we can stabilize things once again and move forward in a better way. I am respectfully requesting more participation, voices and help from our Tahltan members to make this happen.

Following TCG’s election last year there were many new faces added to the TCG Board of Directors. Of the thirteen TCG Board of Directors from the previous term, only two of us remained in our positions, being myself (President) and Kim Marion (Simgaldtada Family Representative). The other eleven governors, who account for eighty-five per cent of TCG’s decisionmaking body, were replaced or took on new positions on the Executive Committee. This unprecedented turnover on the TCG Board, coupled with ongoing issues with adhering to TCG governance-related policies, has created several problems and a great deal of inefficiency. Our Executive Committee and I have faced more opposition and conflict in the past year from TCG’s Family Representatives than I had ever experienced in the previous eight years. Three Family Representative seats were vacant at different times throughout the past year, which required the TCG

It is very important for the TCG Board, both the Executive Committee and the Family Representatives, to understand their roles and to uphold their distinct responsibilities to the TCG, their respective Tahltan families and to the Tahltan Nation. As the TCG President, I am the spokesperson for the Tahltan Nation with many responsibilities as set out in TCG’s bylaws, but Tahltan people must understand that all significant TCG-related decisions are made collectively by the thirteen members (President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and ten Family Representatives) of the TCG Board of Directors. If the majority of the TCG Board opposes any particular decision or opportunity, regardless of its benefit to the TCG or the Tahltan people, the TCG Leadership and our staff cannot move forward. The ultimate decisionmaking power of the TCG is not held by TCG’s elected President and/or Executive Committee; the decision-

Tahltan Nation,

As the United Nations Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) continues to gain recognition and momentum in British Columbia, it is vital for the Tahltan Nation’s governance to function properly so we are prepared to participate, evolve and take advantage of all the new opportunities to determine our own future.

making authority lies collectively with the TCG Board of Directors and all board members’ votes are equal.

As a result, it is very important for Tahltan members to not only participate in TCG-related meetings about our departments, initiatives and pending agreements, but to also become active participants within their own family governance structures. This should help improve decision-making, information sharing, accountability measures and I believe it will ensure we govern better throughout the Tahltan Nation. TCG Family Representatives have many responsibilities, including, but not limited to:

• Holding meetings with their family members at TCG’s Annual General Assembly, as well as at least three other times throughout the calendar year;

• Ensuring that Tahltan members in their family have equal and fair access to information and opportunities;

• Communicating, representing and upholding the culture and tradition of their family on the Board;

• Bringing forward relevant information about their families to assist the TCG in maintaining

up-to-date genealogical and socio-economic records and other information as required to assist the organization in carrying out the mandate of the TCG; and

• Keeping members of their family information and supporting their family in participating in decision-making throughout the duration of the term of the Board.

Most of the aforementioned commitments were not met by the majority of the TCG’s Board of Directors this past year, and I want to personally apologize for the TCG failing to properly implement our governance structure and the responsibilities therein to the Tahltan families and people. The TCG Leadership will continue working with Family Representatives to provide them with adequate compensation and resources (i.e., TCG staff, technical support etc.) to assist them with their family members. For those Tahltan members who may remain unsure of which family they belong to, please reach out to TCG’s Membership Director, Shannon Frank, at membershipdirector@tahltan.org so she can help you understand which Family Representative is tasked with representing your interests and to ensure you are better informed about TCG-related issues and welcomed into the decision-making processes.

Above: Tahltan Youth listen to presentation at SCI Convention in Nashville.

Our TCG staff has continued to grow and I am proud of the current team who are dedicated, hard-working, knowledgeable, and passionate about their work. The majority of our team are Tahltan members who thrive in their positions as they serve our people. I want to specifically acknowledge and recognize all the new TCG Department Directors who have joined the TCG Family in the past year: Connor Pritty (Lands Department), Stacey Hanik (Education & Training Department), Cassandra Puckett (Health & Wellness Director) and we welcome back Lance Nagwan (Wildlife Department) who returned from his parental leave.

I must also thank all the TCG employees who played a vital role in our government over the years who have moved on to new chapters in their work lives over the past year. Calvin Carlick was TCG’s Executive Director for over seven years and recently completed his Master of Business Administration (MBA). Following the completion of his MBA, Calvin decided to rejoin the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) team in his new role as the Partnership and Business Development Director. While the TCG Family is sad to see Calvin move on to new opportunities, we are truly grateful for his years of service to the TCG and wish him nothing but the best. His leadership, mentorship and hard work was essential in TCG’s success and growth in the past seven years, and we are happy to see his talents and passion remain within the Tahltan Nation at TNDC.

The TCG departments are busier than ever and are working on many new and exciting initiatives throughout Tahltan Territory. For example, the TCG was recently successful in attaining one million dollars in funding from the BC Ministry of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport to support the Tāłtān Signage

Project. The project will support updating and installing signage within our homeland to include Tāłtān language, culture, storytelling, and our distinct worldview. TCG’s Tourism, Culture & Heritage, and Communications & External Relations departments will work collaboratively through this initiative.

It is important that we continue to offer more opportunities to Tahltan Youth. We brought a group of ten Youth to this year’s Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) Roundup event in Vancouver. The group was able to sit in on meetings with Tahltan Leadership from the TCG, Iskut Band, and Tahltan Band, and industry partners working in Tahltan Territory. The Youth listened as Leadership spoke on behalf of the Tahltan Nation, sharing our concerns and challenging those who fail to respectfully conduct their activities in our homeland. The Youth in attendance were able to walk the floor at Roundup to explore some of the career opportunities and they enjoyed a day at the University of British Columbia. The TCG also proudly hosted our first international Youth trip taking a group of young Tahltans interested in the guide outfitting industry to Nashville to attend the Safari Club International Convention. These young people did an incredible job helping at various outfitters’ booths, sitting in on negotiation meetings, and contributing to the success of the experience. Another initiative overseen by the Education & Training Department which is directed at Youth, though open to others too, includes the first-ever guide outfitter training course being offered this coming July, and the return of the Industry Exploration Training which took place in May. Lastly, we plan to take the Dease Lake School graduates this year to Ecuador to help them celebrate their accomplishment, thank them for helping us protect Tahltan title and rights by occupying Tahltan Territory, and hopefully provide them with new inspiration and perspectives which lead them to success as they enter adulthood.

The TCG continues to prioritize the protection and stewardship of our lands. Supporting our ability to make decisions about projects in our territory to protect our land, the TCG made history by signing the first ever consent-based decision-making agreement under Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) in relation to the Eskay Creek Revitalization project. The agreement requires Tahltan consent in order for the project to proceed, honouring Tahltan jurisdiction in land management

decisions in our territory. The Province and industry are beginning to recognize that they will no longer be able to do business in our homeland without our consent. The Lands Department hired multiple new employees recently, while promoting others, and is better positioned than ever to increase our capacity throughout Tahltan Territory. Land use planning efforts through the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) is ongoing, and the TCG was successful in continued stoppage of hard rock jade mining in Tahltan Territory. We still need to shut down placer jade mining, gold glacier mining, and various mineral exploration projects in sensitive areas of Tahltan Territory – we are working diligently on this and continue to make progress.

In relation to wildlife stewardship, we have been working to put predator management into the hands of the Tahltan people. Our Wildlife Department has worked to develop and implement the Predator Management Framework which responds to dwindling

ungulate populations and increased conflict between community members and predator species by supporting members as they respectfully harvest wolves and grizzly bears. The TCG has hired multiple Predator Management Technicians to support implementation of this framework. After years of ongoing work to improve wildlife populations, food security, and community safety, the TCG succeeded in signing the TCG – BC Accord on Wildlife Management. I was pleased to witness the signing of this historic agreement which supports co-operative wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory and is led by Tahltan knowledge and expertise. The accord will help to preserve and protect Tahltan wildlife, culture, and way of being. We continue to encourage Tahltan members to assist the TCG with our wildlife initiatives by harvesting predators and practicing their hunting rights in a way which respects conservation concerns when necessary.

Above: Band Councillor Brian Quock, former Minister of Energy, Mines, and Low Carbon Innovation Bruce Ralston, Band Councillor Rocky Jackson, former Premier John Horgan, President Chad Norman Day, Chief Marie Quock, and former Minister of Water, Land and Resource Stewardship Nathan Cullen during the Premier’s visit to Telegraph Creek.

We have plans to thoroughly research fisheries-related issues and changes in Tahltan Territory with the aim to build a robust negotiation team and strategy under the guidance of our Fisheries Department, Elders and other fisheries and legal experts. The TCG Leadership and Board of Directors still have much to learn about the changing environment with fisheries, and we must get more involved with the Federal Government in the coming years.

The TCG made the decision to provide ten per cent of its annual TNDC dividends to the Tahltan Elder Distribution Fund, which was established by the TCG in 2015. We continue to strengthen the support offered to our Elders by ensuring they directly benefit from the ongoing economic prosperity within Tahltan Territory by TNDC. We continue to provide additional governance support to the Elders Council by ensuring all Elders are financially supported to attend TCG’s Annual General Assembly, as well as other initiatives and meetings requested by the council.

Another significant financial change is that the TCG decided to no longer allow the Tahltan Heritage Trust (THT) Trustees to redirect all of the annual Impact Benefit Agreement (IBA) funds from the Northwest Hydro-electric Project into the THT. Instead, TCG has begun to implement the IBA as worded by putting these funds in a high interest savings account administered by the TCG. As of now, such funds will only be used for education and training purposes for the Tahltan people until we internally restructure our financial governance to utilize such funds elsewhere. This decision was contentious and created much tension amongst the TCG Board and the THT Trustees, which is why it is so important for Tahltan members to speak to their respective Family Representatives about such decisions. For years now, the TCG has been advocating for the THT to update their rules and articles to reflect best practices. We would also like to see the THT trustees increase their communication efforts and accountability measures for the benefit of all Tahltan people. The THT is in need of a robust overhaul, and I would like to see the Tahltan people and trust experts come together to make some serious improvements.

Top: President Day at the weir on Tahltan Lake with Fisheries’ Michael Nole.

Bottom: President Day in Dease Lake community gym.

In my view, there is no better investment than ensuring the Tahltan people, no matter their age or location or area of study, are supported with their educational and training needs to become independent and successful. As the Tahltan Nation continues to grow and evolve, and as more of our people become better informed about opportunities stemming from the TCG, we see a steady increase of Tahltan students, trainees, partnerships/initiatives, and education/training expenditures each year. I want to personally commend all those utilizing these funds to empower themselves and I also must congratulate all those individuals who may have graduated from high school, a training program or any other educational-related degree or certificate over the past year. Maybe some of you can come and work

for the TCG? We are always growing our government and hiring more passionate and collaborative Tahltan people!

Establishing our Health & Wellness Department is something I take considerable pride in, as we have been committed to helping assist and uplift those Tahltans people who could use our help with their health. The department will support Tahltans now and in the future by supporting their physical, mental, and spiritual health and wellness. The Health & Wellness Director, Cassandra Puckett, is extremely dedicated to her work in this area, and I am excited to see all that the department achieves in improving the health of our Nation.

Above: President Day speaking at the 2022 Annual General Assembly (AGA).

I am proud to see the continued support for our Healthy Active Tahltans (HATs) initiative, which I founded in 2014 to motivate Tahltans everywhere to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Each year, HATs organizes events at our local Tahltan schools in Dease Lake, Iskut, and Telegraph Creek. We educate our children about health and fitness, invite the entire community to a catered healthy lunch, and wrap up the day by playing sports and/or hiking as a community.

In addition to the aforementioned local events, the HATs movement has also:

• Sponsored over ten Tahltan hockey teams to attend more than twenty hockey tournaments over the past several years;

• Provided thousands of HATs T-shirts for Tahltan members since 2014;

• Organized community-led initiatives related to health and fitness (i.e., Tour de Telegraph bikes and funds); and,

• Featured male and female HATs profiles in all TCG quarterly newsletters since 2014. The Tahltan Nation has so many incredible athletes, some in university, and HATs has motivated and inspired them.

Last year, thanks to HATs, we helped provide additional high-quality equipment to fitness centres in our communities, including at a new fitness health space in Dease Lake. Our goal is to ensure all our members and Youth, throughout Tahltan Territory, have convenient and high-quality fitness facilities to encourage them to stay healthy and succeed in their fitness goals.

The continued success of the Tahltan Nation is intimately tied to the health and wellness of our Youth and community members which is why we will continue with this important work.

I am excited to see what the next year brings and I am truly looking forward to gathering with all of you at the Annual General Assembly in Tahltan Territory this summer where we can share more details on the TCG’s accomplishments and hear your thoughts, opinions, and concerns as we continue to strive for improvement. I hope to see you there.

Klane Nedischā.

In closing, I am proud, grateful and blessed to serve the Tahltan Nation and to be surrounded by such an incredible team. Every day we work hard to serve the Tahltan people so we can empower and improve their lives and to create a stronger and more self-determining Tahltan Nation for our children and future generations.

Message from the Vice President

Greetings Tahltans,

Since stepping back into the role of Vice President for Tahltan Central Government (TCG), in July 2022, many things have transpired with our team. At the board level we have had some new faces that are representing their families. I would like to extend a warm welcome to them as well as those that are more seasoned. I just want to let you know your presence is welcomed and appreciated.

been following the Gitxaala case closely as they have challenged the way BC grants mineral claims for a nominal fee via an online system without inclusion or any sort of consultation with Indigenous people. Whatever way the courts decide in favour for this case will directly impact Tahltans. We have been working with our legal team to keep us updated.

Heather Hawkins Vice President, Tahltan Central Government

In August, we learned that Nalaine Morin was moving on to a different role. We were all very sorry to see her leave. Her time with the TCG will always be appreciated and regarded as highly valuable. She is irreplaceable. We have welcomed Lands Director Connor Pritty to the team, who hit the ground running to ensure that he learned as much as he can to effectively fulfill the role and expectations. He has made a great effort to meet and have engagement with our communities. If you have not met him yet, you will very soon.

Our election happened upon the signing of the Section 7 agreement with the Province. We have been meeting with our communities and BC to better understand this agreement and how it may impact our future. Along with this work, we have been making great efforts to restructure the mineral online staking. It has proven to be ineffective and chaotic for both Tahltans and the Province. We aim to achieve this very soon in the future. This will improve certainty in the areas we want to protect and areas that may be consensual for development. The TCG Board of Directors has

The winter and spring have been relatively quiet, we spent this time focusing on relationship building within our TCG Board of Directors and with our Iskut Band and Tahltan Band. In unity, we will be able to protect our borders from all encroaching entities. Phenomenal work has been put forward by all the Tahltan entities with our Culture & Heritage and Language Departments. Through this work we will forge a stronger plan for tomorrow by fully documenting and understanding our culture and history, and of course, sharing this information with our Tahltan citizens.

Above: Ann Ball and Heather Hawkins on site visits to exploration camps, jade mining, and other industry around territory.

Message from the Secretary Treasurer

Well, we are finishing off year one of our three-year term, and I just want to say mēduh cho to all my supporters that voted for me in the last election. I truly do appreciate it and I will endeavor to continue to fulfill your vote of confidence. It has been a hectic year and there were quite a few newly elected TCG Board Members for both the Family Representatives as well as the Executive roles. So, there has been a considerable amount of effort spent onboarding everyone involved. We do have a few topics on the go.

Sandra Marion Secretary Treasurer, Tahltan Central Government

One of the topics we are hoping to cover is working with Leadership to update the Tahltan Heritage Trust document. It has served its original intended purpose, and we are truly grateful for the foresight of our previous Leadership that were involved in drafting the document. Now with the size of the Trust, it has outgrown the original document. Moving forward, we want to work with current Leadership to update these rules to reflect the size of the Trust and to protect it for future generations. We are also doing a deeper dive on some of our financial policies and our travel policies. We are looking to work with our Finance Department to draft some policy recommendations for the TCG Board to approve.

We also dove into our strategic plan this year. We had TCG departments lead with a great deal of the work that they are in the process of completing to gain a better understanding, at the TCG Board table, of the direction of the organization and how we can support our departments in moving towards protecting the land, wildlife and all other natural resources that we have here in our homeland.

In December, I was able to participate in a trip to Sydney, Australia to visit the Cadia Mine owned by Newcrest. While there, we were also able to sign up for some local Indigenous tours to get a sense of what other Indigenous cultural training could look like. We participated in a walkabout tour that was with one of the locals, and we found it very informative. We were able to tour the city of Sydney which looks a lot like downtown Vancouver, and while the tour guides walked us through, they talked about what it is like when they are born, as they grow up, and how they learn different things from different close family members who are usually a part of different tribes.

We witnessed all the old landmarks and where the old shoreline was back in the 1700s and the changes to the city since. Afterwards, we also talked about how the Sydney Opera House was built on one of their local fishing sites that their ancestors used. They shared their history, explaining that when one tribe fished at the site, and they ate oysters, they would stack the empty shells before they moved on. When the next tribe came along, they would see that the previous tribe had eaten oysters, so they would choose to fish for something else. This was one of the ways they practiced conservation. They also have ochre much like ours, though with a variety of colours, unlike our mostly red ochre here in Tahltan Territory. They had colours that ranged from white, tan, yellow, red, and even brown, and used it as markings on their bodies, with different markings carrying different meanings.

When we went to Cadia Mine, signing in was all digital. When you arrived on site, you had to scan yourself in. So, they always knew electronically, how many people were on site and exactly who they were, which I thought was interesting and a good measure of safety. When we went underground to the block caving, it took us about 20 minutes to get down the decline and that was with us bumping along at about 40 kilometers per hour.

They operate 20-ton scoops to remove the ore and feed it into the crusher. Surprisingly, at any given time, they had about 1,000 employees underground. It was such a large underground operation, but everything underground was automated. So, if you entered one of the portals, your tag would signal the sensors in the wall, and the equipment would be shut down, which is another safety feature that I thought was innovative. A lot of the work underground can be remote; they had

a few guys in a room that could operate anywhere from one to two machines at a time. They did all their processing on site and despite having 1,000 employees underground at any given time, they had no on-site accommodation. Everyone drove to work at the start of their shift and home at the end, and the furthest employee lived two hours away.

They have a community named Orange nearby and it resembled Terrace to me in many ways being a smaller community: not as big as Vancouver, but not as small as Dease Lake. The Wiradjuri Nation was interesting because in their culture. They belong to many different tribes in Australia, so individual Nations do not typically have a membership list. When we went to visit the Wiradjuri Land Council, it was similar to visiting an organization, rather than an Indigenous government.

It was a very amazing, eye-opening experience. I learned a great deal about the Indigenous Australian Wiradjuri Nation, as well as Newcrest and their relationship with their neighbouring Nations and the community of Orange. The governance structure over there is completely different, so it was interesting to understand how involved they were with the community. We shared with Newcrest that although Red Chris Mine is right next to Iskut, they are encouraged to work with all three communities and all three governments in the Tahltan Nation.

It has been awesome supporting our people with the ongoing work that involves TCG and having the opportunity to live at home in territory. My family and I moved back in October 2020, and while we had intended to stay a year, one year turned into two years, two years into three, and so on. It has been lovely to be home, and it has been awesome for our children to grow up here. I get to watch my children learn their Tahltan language and repeatedly practice it. These are things we would not be able to achieve in Terrace without doing so on our own initiative, so we appreciate all the work that goes into the communities back home. We look forward to two more years here with everyone (longer if I can help it), and I also look forward to supporting the people and our Nation in our continued growth. If you ever want to visit, chat, or if you have any concerns that you would like to discuss, please pop in for a visit. The family and I will be in Dease Lake.

Nedischā, Nunusti.

Message from the Chief Administrative Officer

Calvin Carlick Chief Administrative Officer, Tahltan Central Government

The 2022-2023 operational year was full of new challenges and opportunities as we moved out of the pandemic and embraced in-person gathering once again. The Annual General Assembly (AGA) in 2022 saw the election of a new Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Board of Directors with many new faces. Prioritization for the following months was the general onboarding of the new board members, which included familiarizing them with policies and processes, and presentations from TCG Department Directors, who provided in depth overviews of the past work of their departments and goals for the future.

The change in title from Executive Director to Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) was put forward and approved by the TCG Board of Directors in 2023. In my seven and a half years with the TCG, I have strongly been focused on increasing the quality of service that we offer. This means focusing on service output by hiring qualified, dedicated, and passionate candidates to support operations and in doing so, we have significantly increased Tahltan capacity within the organization. In increasing capacity, there has been a need to re-evaluate and improve our human resource (HR) management, which entails refining the recruitment process, formalizing onboarding, and working to review and update our HR-related polices.

We have achieved this is by embracing modern work environments, such as hybrid workspaces, allowing staff to work remotely and also providing office spaces for collaboration and working with a team.

As I leave my position at the TCG to move on to new career opportunities, I would like to close with a special thanks to President Chad Norman Day and current and previous TCG Board of Directors for providing me with the opportunity to be a top manager working for the Tahltan Nation and such an important mandate. My time at the TCG has allowed me to prosper as individual manager and help the Nation as a Tahltan citizen, serving in a more productive and meaningful way. Overall, it has been an absolute blessing to work for the TCG and a great experience offering many awesome relationships along the way. The TCG is an incredible place to work, and I would encourage anyone to work for the TCG given the opportunity. I look forward to welcoming the next CAO who will bring new ideas, thoughts, and processes to help the TCG grow even further.

Mēduh.

I am passionate about tapping into the team’s greatest potential and I encourage all staff, regardless of their position to embrace leadership. This can be as simple as asking different team members to chair meetings or practice their public speaking by encouraging them to speak to something they are familiar with at a group event. I have also strongly advocated for creating a comfortable work environment that allows staff to achieve maximum productivity and allows the TCG to cast a wider net in the search for candidates.

Tahltan Central Government Board of Directors

William Brown Carlick Family carlick@tahltan.org

David Rattray Etzenlee Family etzenlee@tahltan.org

Annita McPhee Good-za-ma Family goodzama@tahltan.org

Kimberley Marion Simgaldtada (Ts’imgalteda) Family simgaldtada@tahltan.org

Colleen Parker

Stikine Claw/Thicke Family stikineclaw_thicke@ tahltan.org

Lily Belhumeur Eth’eni Family etheni@tahltan.org

Richard Jackson Quock (Dekama) Family quock@tahltan.org

Curtis Rattray Cawtoonma Family cawtoonma@tahltan.org

Mindy Henyu Shoe Kawk/Howd-AGhtte (Shukak) Family shoekawk@tahltan.org

Clarence Quock Thud ga Family thudga@tahltan.org

Updates

Tahltan Central Government Strongly Asserts Tahltan Territory Borders, Opposes Neighbouring Nations Claims

Press Release | Published February 14, 2023

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, February 14, 2023 –

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is actively managing recent and ongoing actions by neighbouring Nations that relate to lands within the boundaries of Tahltan Territory, including recent announcements by the Taku River Tlingit First Nation (TRTFN) and the Treaty 8 Nations.

Most recently, on January 20, 2023, TRTFN announced the Taku River Tlingit First Nation Declaration of the T’aku Tlatsini Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (Taku IPCA). TRTFN included the Sheslay area within Tahltan Territory in its Taku IPCA. TRTFN did not seek or obtain Tahltan consent prior to including any of Tahltan Territory in the Taku IPCA, and it appears that TRTFN did not have the support of the Province of British Columbia (Province) prior to declaring the

Taku IPCA.1 The TCG denies that TRTFN has the right to govern Sheslay or any other area of Tahltan Territory and opposes this type of unilateral assertion of governance rights by any Nation within Tahltan Territory.

The TCG is committed to taking every step necessary to assert Tahltan jurisdiction and protect Tahltan Territory from encroachment by third parties and we are in active communication with the Province regarding these issues. At the same time, the TCG recognizes the value in maintaining positive relationships with our neighbouring Nations, to the extent possible. Accordingly, the TCG will be working to engage in respectful dialogue with our neighbours while diligently ensuring that Tahltan rights, lands, and resources are safeguarded.

TNDC partnering with TCG, Province and Industry to create Tahltan Nation Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program

Press Release | Published January 24, 2023

DEASE LAKE, BC, JANUARY 24, 2023 – Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) has partnered with the Tahltan Central Government (TCG), Government of British Columbia, and several industry partners (Centre of Training Excellence in Mining, Coast Mountain College, Contact North BC, Finning, Mining in HR Council, Newcrest Mining Limited, and SkilledTradesBC), to create a pilot Tahltan Nation Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program.

The Tahltan Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Training Program will address an industry problem, by combining equipment training in Tahltan Territory with on-the-job practical operating work experience and camp life exposure. In addition to building capacity within the Tahltan community, the training program will integrate Tahltan regional and traditional knowledge on local projects while tapping into senior experienced Tahltan operators.

The program will align with SkilledTradesBC (formerly Industry Training Authority) learning outcomes as well as the Mining in HR Council common competencies. It will provide a mixture of workplace safety training, underground miner fundamentals, HEO simulator training, and at least 140 hours of hands-on training, focussed on a progressive approach to learning heavy equipment operation over three years. Additional pieces of equipment will be added each year.

Participants will receive four weeks of hands-on Heavy Equipment Operator training, followed by job placement as an apprentice with an industry partner in Tahltan Territory, focussing on the relevant pieces of equipment they learn each year, to build up their hours that season, and complete their SkilledTradesBC certification. At the outset, the program will also support Tahltans in acquiring their Class 4, 5 and 7 drivers’ licences in territory, and provide a one-week camp life orientation at the Red Chris Mine. Travel, accommodation, meals, and a training stipend will be provided during training while full apprenticeship wages will be paid during the job placement.

During the training and work season, participants will also receive support from senior Tahltan Heavy Equipment Operators, who will be supported in challenging the SkilledTradesBC HEO Certification, as well as building skills as mentors through additional ongoing training with the Mining in HR Council and Coast Mountain College.

Tahltan Territory, located in remote northwest British Columbia, is home to approximately 70% of B.C.’s resource rich Golden Triangle, including two of the 10 operating metal mines in BC (Red Chris and Brucejack). Tahltan Territory is also home to approximately 14% of Canada’s exploration expenditures, approximately 3% of the global exploration budget, approximately

$295 million of mineral exploration expenditure, and $1.05 billion of total projected mining production values. Demand for skilled, experienced and certified HEOs will continue to grow in the decades to come.

“Despite global financial headwinds, there is and will continue to be, a significant need for experienced Heavy Equipment Operators with TNDC and in Tahltan Territory. TNDC frequently receives resumes from new Tahltan operators who have spent several weeks outside territory attending a Heavy Equipment Operator Program, returning without complete qualifications to work on an active mine site and operate heavy equipment. TNDC saw an opportunity to tap into new funding opportunities and partner with TCG, the Province and industry to create a program that is more cost effective and Tahltan oriented, and that will provide the certification skills and training TNDC and our industry partners need. The fruition of this program is testament to partnership and collaboration, and a win-win-win for everyone involved,” said Colleen Cashin, VP People & Corporate Culture, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation.

“I am thrilled at the opportunity this course will create for Tahltans wishing to pursue a career that allows

them to be trained in Tahltan Territory and encourages them to use their skills in our communities after completion,” said Chad Norman Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. “The Tahltan Central Government strives to support our members in finding careers and employment opportunities, including through the use of OnTrack, our Tahltan exclusive job site. I have repeatedly emphasized that for there to be world-class mining in our territory, there is a need for world-class wildlife stewardship, but in addition to this, world-class mining cannot exist in Tahltan Territory without Tahltans being included in the workforce. We support breaking down any barriers that have traditionally prevented our members from accessing employment opportunities. Tahltans must benefit from preferential hire by those operating in our territory. I am excited to see the doors that this program and partnership will open for Tahltans.”

“This pilot program will help people develop the skills and experience they need to become certified Heavy Equipment Operators,” said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “Skills training, such as the Tahltan Nation Heavy Equipment Operator Training program, is essential to addressing the demand for skilled trades in the area.”

Above: HEO training program participants.

Tahltan Central Government Announces Creation of New Health Department

Press Release | Published December 27, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, December 27, 2022

– The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is excited to announce the creation of a new department. The TCG Health Department will be forged under the direction of Cassandra Puckett, who will be leading as Department Director. The Health Department will support interacting health programs that serve Tahltan community members, the complete scope of which is still to be determined. Cassandra will be working closely with the Tahltan and Iskut Bands to ensure that priorities of communities in territory, in terms of the health and wellness challenges, barriers, and gaps, are included in the planning and development of the department.

British Columbia’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (DRIPA’s) overarching purpose is to implement the objectives of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UNDRIP states that Indigenous peoples have the right to the improvement of their health, among other things, and equal rights to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health. The remoteness of Tahltan Territory’s communities has resulted in a lack of services in territory that are readily available to those in living in urban areas. The TCG Health Department will not only work to rectify this but will do so using a Tahltan-led approach, developing services based on the specific needs of the Tahltan people.

“The creation of the TCG Health Department is something to celebrate and something of which I am particularly proud,” said Chad Norman Day, President

of the TCG. “We have long been committed to focusing on improving our homeland by bringing a better way of life for all Tahltans. The TCG is working diligently through this initiative to help better the physical, mental, and spiritual wellness of our people. All of the work we do is not only for Tahltans now, but for our future generations. In establishing the Health Department alongside our other departments, we are caring for our lands and resources, but also for the overall wellbeing of Tahltans, which is absolutely essential if we want them to benefit from the services offered by our other departments. We can provide members with extra skills and training, financial and employment opportunities, and more, but without their health, they can never reach their full potential.”

Cassandra Puckett, TCG’s Health Director, said “Recognizing that there are unique health and wellness needs within the Tahltan Territory, the TCG responded by developing a new TCG Health Department. Guided by the Tahltan Nation, the department will work collaboratively with our Tahltan Governance, Tahltan Communities, the Health Authority, Industry partners, and the government to strengthen our ability to address challenges in a way that is holistic and meaningful to the Nation. Honouring our shared history as Tahltan people will be foundational in working towards creative and innovative ways to support health and wellness and improving health outcomes across the Nation.”

Tahltan Central Government and School District 87 Collaborate to Offer Annual International Trip for Dease Lake Graduates

Press Release Published November 24, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, 24 November 2022 President Chad Norman Day of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) and multiple TCG Departments will be working closely with School District 87 (SD87) to bring this year’s graduating class on an international trip to Peru.

The opportunity will be offered to students in the summer of 2023 for those who have successfully graduated. Dease Lake School is the only high school in Tahltan Territory, bringing together future graduates from the communities of Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut.

The TCG will utilize the Dease Lake Community Funds set aside from industry-related Impact Benefit Agreements, along with additional fundraising efforts and sponsorships from Industry, to cover the costs for the trip.

Peru was selected for its rich Indigenous culture and heritage, as well as its mining economy which draws unique parallels to Tahltan Territory. Events planned for the trip will include touring Machu Picchu and the unique history of the Inca Civilization in the Peruvian Andes which was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Mining companies who conduct business in both Tahltan Territory and Peru will also be visited in Lima, and the students will help craft additional adventures on their trip. Chaperones accompanying the graduates

will include representatives from the TCG and SD87. TCG intends to offer and help plan additional international trips to Dease Lake graduates, with plans to explore other destinations across the globe.

“Our Youth are the future stewards of our Tahltan lands and people, and the TCG has been steadily creating additional initiatives to expose them to new opportunities within British Columbia, Canada, and now internationally,” said Chad Norman Day, Tahltan Central Government President. “The students in Tahltan Territory and their families play an important role in maintaining our title and rights through their ongoing occupation of our homeland. The TCG and I made a commitment to establish annual trips for our local graduates which will broaden their horizons and open their minds to different possibilities. Our TCG Team is excited to collaborate with School District 87 to provide our graduates with an opportunity to visit a beautiful country rich in natural resources and Indigenous cultural heritage, much like our own.”

Tracey MacMillan, Superintendent, SD87, stated that “this collaboration with the TCG will serve as a further lever to remove barriers to education. The graduates will benefit greatly from this experience. It will expose them to other opportunities and views that they can bring back to their communities. It will enable growth and capacity building. Consequently, we are appreciative of the efforts of the TCG.”

Tahltan Wildlife Department Removes Grizzly Bear following Dangerous Encounter at Elder’s Home

Press Release | Published November 4, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, November 4, 2022 -

On Monday, October 31st, 2022, the Tahltan Central Government’s (TCG) Wildlife Department staff shot and killed a Grizzly bear just outside the community of Iskut following a frightening incident at an elderly woman’s home.

At approximately 10:30 PM on Sunday evening, an elderly community resident requested aid after the large and aggressive bear had damaged her vehicle, torn through the front door and entered her residence. Conservation Officers were contacted but were not in the territory to help at the time of the event. However, TCG Wildlife Guardians and Predator Management Technicians quickly responded to the threat.

An initial search by the Guardians and Technicians revealed damage to the property, including a raided freezer, but failed to establish the bear’s whereabouts. The area was secured, and a leg hold restraint bear snare was set, leading to its eventual capture on Monday evening, at which time it was put down. This came as a relief to many Iskut community members who had been concerned for their safety after having been advised to stay indoors until the bear was captured. Halloween was cancelled for most children in the community due to safety concerns.

“This occurrence in Iskut with the Grizzly bear is a stark reminder of why there is such a need for Tahltan-led stewardship and wildlife management with more delegated authority for the Tahltan Nation. We are fortunate that no community members were harmed, and I am grateful to our Wildlife Guardians and

Predator Management Technicians for acting so quickly to protect our community.

We had several cabins and other infrastructure destroyed by Grizzly bears again this year,” said Chad Norman Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. “Our remote location means that BC’s Conservation Officers are often unavailable to assist, particularly when there is an immediate need.

Our Wildlife Department has been working to take predator management into our own hands, in response to dwindling ungulate populations caused by an increased number of predators and because there has been increased conflict between predators and community members. We have recently invested over a million dollars hiring our own Predator Management Technicians to keep Tahltans safe.

Our Predator Management Policy supports Tahltan people in fulfilling their stewardship responsibilities for wildlife in Tahltan Territory. It incentivizes Tahltans to harvest predatory species in a respectful way and aligns with BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.”

In addition to the Predator Management Policy, the TCG has worked to establish a long-discussed Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management in an effort to develop worldclass wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory led by the Tahltan Nation. This accord acknowledges and respects Tahltan knowledge, values, and worldview in relation to wildlife, and recognizes the need to include these in wildlife management in Tahltan Territory.

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. take step forward to develop wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory

Press Release Published October 18, 2022

VICTORIA – The Tahltan Central Government and the Province of B.C. have agreed to work together toward the development and implementation of a world-class wildlife regime, led by Tahltan knowledge and expertise that will protect and preserve Tahltan wildlife, culture and way of being.

The Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management outlines a vision and commitment for establishing a wildlife stewardship regime in Tahltan Territory. The accord highlights the Tahltan Central Government’s ongoing efforts to address the wildlife concerns of Tahltan people by protecting wildlife populations in Tahltan Territory with a focus on caribou restoration and predator management. It builds on and continues years of efforts to collaboratively advance enhanced wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory with the Province, including regional approaches achieved through the current Collaborative Stewardship Forum.

“The Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management recognizes Tahltan title and rights, Tahltan local knowledge and Tahltan values. Since time immemorial, the Tahltan Nation's identity and the essence of who we are as a distinct society has been connected to our land. We are the land. We are our wildlife,” said Chad Norman Day, president, Tahltan Central Government. “Tahltans have reiterated that there will be no worldclass mining in our territory without world-class wildlife management and stewardship. This accord echoes our view. We have been standing up for our rights as Tahltan people, demanding respect of our knowledge and values, and fighting for our future generations. As a Nation, we are grieving the loss of our first Tahltan Wildlife Guardian, Jarett Quock. I am proud to see his passionate work

reflected in this accord and thank him for all that he has done for the Tahltan Central Government, our wildlife department and the Tahltan Nation. I am grateful to our wildlife department and our guardians who are out on the land working hard to protect our wildlife. Mēduh.”

Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, said: “British Columbians value the incredible variety of wildlife and supporting ecology in our province. Wildlife is crucial to protecting the Tahltan’s Aboriginal rights, culture and way of life. This accord creates opportunities for expanded collaboration on wildlife stewardship that respects Tahltan needs and offers clear opportunities for resident hunters, guide outfitters and shared benefits throughout the region.”

The shared vision and commitment is an integral step along the reconciliation pathway between the Province and the Tahltan Nation. The accord parallels other efforts to foster resource development founded on recognition and respect of Tahltan Aboriginal title and rights, fostering sustainable economic growth, rigorous environmental standards and social responsibility.

The new wildlife management system will have three core elements:

• joint wildlife governance;

• co-management; and

• joint information and data collection.

There are also immediate measures to be implemented that include caribou and moose monitoring plans and support for Tahltan predator monitoring and management.

Tahltan Nation Featured at Vancouver International Film Festival

Press Release | Published October 12, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, October 12, 2022 –Representatives from the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) attended this year’s Vancouver International Film Festival for the world premiere of Unarchived The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) is known for celebrating the world’s cultures in its annual worldclass exhibition of the year’s finest International and Canadian films. This feature-length documentary film directed by Hayley Gray and Elad Tzadok profiles the inspiring work of the diverse, underrepresented, and unarchived histories in British Columbia including that of the Tahltan Nation. The TCG will be working to share this film through screenings in Tahltan communities in the weeks ahead.

The film explores community archives across British Columbia in which local knowledge keepers are creating outside of the traditional colonialist narrative set forward by archives structured under the guidance of the Crown. The work of the TCG is profiled including the creation of our own archives and interviews with President Chad Norman Day and Sandra Marion, TCG’s Culture & Heritage Director. Unarchived follows Sandra and her team on a visit to the Royal BC Museum in Victoria where she views and comments on Tahltan belongings held in the museum’s collections. These Tahltan belongings, like many held within museums around the world belong to the Tahltan people and need to be returned home. Unarchived supports an important dialogue that the Nation is having with various museums around the world as it seeks to have Tahltan belongings returned home through dialogue and repatriation. This work is supported through the recognition of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples worldwide, including through adoption within the Province of British

Columbia through B.C.’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.

The TCG Archives will serve the Tahltan Nation by preserving cultural, linguistic, and historical documentary heritage. The TCG has been working to secure and organize its archives and to interview Elders and Tahltan knowledge holders to increase our understanding throughout the archival collection process. This work serves to protect Tahltan knowledge for current and future generations in support of Tahltan title and rights.

“I have been honoured to participate in this important film. The Tahltan Nation has been here since time immemorial, and it is crucial that we share our own story. Even today, many of the Tahltan belongings in museums exist as the result of theft and other unethical methods of collection despite our repeated requests for access and to bring these belongings home,” said Sandra Marion, TCG Culture & Heritage Director.

“Decolonizing institutions involves bringing Indigenous perspectives to the forefront to replace Western interpretations of history. Unarchived sheds light on a contentious and not well-known topic and offers an opportunity for viewers to learn more and help our Nation as we seek to have belongings from our Nation rightfully returned to us. Mēduh to those involved in making this important film and for helping share our story.”

Unarchived offers a glimpse of some of the meaningful work being done by our Culture & Heritage Department. The TCG’s Archives will not only facilitate knowledge sharing but will also serve to reaffirm culture and

identity across the Tahltan Nation. We as Tahltans are more familiar with our own story than anyone, including ethnographers, historians, archaeologists, and others who have worked to interpret our history. It is vital that we are leading how our story is told and shared with Tahltans and the outside world.

The Tahltan Nation was also highlighted in another film, The Klabona Keepers which speaks to the strength of our Nation and efforts to protect our Sacred Headwaters from commercial mining. The documentary, which premiered at the Human Rights Watch Film Festival this year, follows a group of Elders and their incredible resolve to protect our land. Through the Elders efforts on the ground, and political pressure from the TCG, our Nation worked together to complete the Klappan Plan to support protection of our land for future generations.

Above: TCG staff at the Vancouver International Film Festival for world premiere of Unarchived

PRESS RELEASE

Tahltan Central Government –British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management

Press Release | September 8, 2022

Today, President Chad Norman Day of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG), Chief Carmen McPhee of the Tahltan Band, and Councillor John Nole of the Iskut Band Council are meeting with Ministers from the Province of British Columbia to firmly advance Tahltan efforts to establish world-class wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory - led by our Nation.

Tahltan Leadership are bringing to reality the long discussed Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia Accord on Wildlife Management. Joined by Katrine Conroy, Minister of Forests, Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Bruce Ralston, Minister of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation, Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship, and George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, Tahltan Leaders shared their concerns and visions f or the future preservation and strengthening of our wildlife, culture and way of being.

The TCG has been working tirelessly over recent years to address the wildlife concerns of Tahltans, to protect our wildlife populations and strengthen our hunting rights. In collaboration with the Province, our work to date to protect Tahltan wildlife includes the Caribou Stewardship Project under the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative, and other joint programs such as Stone’s Sheep monitoring, Klappan Moose Population Monitoring and Stewardship Planning, Communitybased Moose Action Plans and wildlife health as part of the 3 Nations Collaborative Stewardship Framework. Our Wildlife Department, Directed by Lance Nagwan

along with Interim Wildlife Director Westin Creyke, strive to protect wildlife in Tahltan Territory for Tahltan people focusing heavily on caribou restoration and predator management.

Since time immemorial, the Tahltan Nation’s identity and the essence of who we are as a distinct society has been connected to our land. We are the land. We are our wildlife. Through this work, we are standing up for our rights as Tahltan people, demanding respect of our knowledge and values, and fighting for our future generations. Our vision and commitment to establish a world-class wildlife stewardship regime in Tahltan Territory builds on years of efforts to advance wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory.

We want to include all Tahltans in this important work. Later in September, our Wildlife Department and team led by Interim Director, Westin Creyke will be visiting Tahltans for dinner in Telegraph Creek, Dease Lake and Iskut to share what we have been up to and seek your guidance as we move forward and make change together. We will also be holding online engagement sessions. Stay tuned for details to be shared in the coming days about location, dates and times.

Learn more about our ongoing stewardship work at any time by exploring our Tahltan Stewardship Initiative website: https://tsi.tahltan.org/

Tahltan Central Government Makes Significant Investment in Predator Management

Press Release | Published June 28, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, June 28, 2022 –Under the Predator Management Framework, which includes the Tahltan Predator Management Plan and the Tahltan Predator Management Policy, the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is supporting the Tahltan people in fulfilling their inherent stewardship responsibilities for wildlife in Tahltan Territory, in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, by taking predator management into their own hands.

The TCG’s Wildlife Department will be hiring four full-time predator management staff to support the program, which includes animal monitoring and population control, data collection, wildlife research, and working with Elders and Knowledge Holders. This is a historic investment which will prioritize predator management in Tahltan Territory by its own members. The TCG Wildlife Department will also increase its efforts to work closely with other wildlife stakeholders who understand and support predator management initiatives.

The Predator Management Framework responds to dwindling ungulate species populations and increased conflict between community members and predatory species. Culturally important to the Tahltan people and primary food sources, ungulate species are being protected by restoration programs and initiatives across the country developed between Indigenous, provincial, and federal governments with a primary focus on caribou.

Previous research has revealed the impact predatory species have on ungulates. Wolf densities cannot exceed 6.5 wolves per 1,000 km² for stable caribou populations, while for recovering populations, that number is reduced to three wolves per 1,000 km². Alarmingly, it is estimated that there are 15 to 24 wolves per 1,000 km² in Tahltan Territory.

The Tahltan Predator Management Framework incentivizes Tahltan members to exercise their hunting rights to harvest predatory species, such as wolves and grizzly bears that pose a high risk to ungulates. Reviving and strengthening cultural hunting practices, protecting a culturally significant species, increasing local safety, and providing monetary incentives for harvesting will benefit current and future generations of Tahltan people as the Nation works to recover dwindling ungulate populations.

“Our Predator Management Framework is yet another example of the Tahltan Nation asserting our rights and title and leading the way in stewardship of our territory, as we have done since time immemorial,” said Chad Norman Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. “We are using Tahltan knowledge and western science to help develop a world class wildlife management regime in our homeland. Relying on our own data will allow us to respond immediately to an urgent situation, while exercising our rights and jurisdiction over Tahltan Territory. We continue to push the Province to make improvements to wildlife management and will be increasingly pushing back on economic development in our homeland until this

important work is done.” A provincial ban on Grizzly bear hunting in 2017 that once removed an average of 100 Grizzly bears annually, has eliminated a means of predator control without consideration for the resulting consequences for locals and ungulates. Moose, for example, require 35 calves for every 100 cows in stable populations. Our moose populations now have less than 30 calves per 100 cows. Studies have shown that bears are responsible for roughly half of moose calf mortality. This is an example of why Tahltans must take responsibility for their own predator management as provincial and federal regulations have failed to consider regional differences and address the concerns of the Tahltan people.

Above, left to right: Predator Tech Dennis Quock, Predator Tech Dwayne Tashoots.

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

Press Release | Published June 6, 2022

VICTORIA – Tahltan Central Government and the Province have entered into the first consent based decision-making agreement under the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Declaration Act). This agreement honours Tahltan’s jurisdiction in land management decisions in Tahltan Territory, in recognition of Tahltan’s title and rights within its territory. The agreement advances reconciliation as well as provides clarity and predictability for the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project.

“Today marks an exciting step forward in the evolution of the relationship between the Tahltan Nation and the Province of British Columbia,” said Chad Norman Day, President of the Tahltan Central Government. “Reconciliation is not achieved with just one step. It requires ongoing innovation, collaboration and leaning into discomfort. For the Tahltan people, strengthening and preserving our culture, values and independence is why we keep pushing forward on this journey. The Tahltan Central Government has been clear on behalf of all Tahltan people that there will be no world-class mining jurisdiction in Tahltan Territory without robust Tahltan stewardship which must include world-class wildlife and fisheries management, strong environmental mitigation measures and recognition of our 1910 Declaration. The Tahltan Nation and the Province have a long journey ahead walking and living on the path to reconciliation and we look forward to building on our relationship together. I thank all of those who have worked on this historic agreement which better recognizes Tahltan jurisdiction over our homelands. It has been generations in the making. Mēduh.”

“This historic step shifts B.C.’s legal decision-making framework to respect First Nations jurisdiction,

recognize the inherent rights of the Tahltan, and provide a clear, stable, and sustainable path for everyone to work together. This is reconciliation in action, in the real world,” said Premier John Horgan. “The Tahltan Nation is a strong partner. By working together, we are delivering on the promise of reconciliation, supporting predictability for business, and encouraging responsible investment in B.C.” This agreement outlines consent-based decision-making related to the environmental assessment of the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project. The governments are working together to change B.C.’s traditional approach to environmental assessments and permit authorizations, by placing Tahltan values and rights at the forefront. Together, the shared intent is to create a model for sustainable mining and world-class environmental practices and standards. The agreement helps advance reconciliation with the Tahltan Nation, while providing certainty for the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project.

“As an already developed mine site with existing road access, waste management facilities, nearby access to green power, and robust economics, Indigenous consent is an essential step in an efficient approval process for Eskay Creek,” said Justin Himmelright, Senior Vice President, External Affairs and Sustainability, Skeena Resources. “We look forward to working with our Tahltan partners and the governments of British Columbia and Canada to bring this iconic project back into production.”

The consent-based decision-making process outlined in the agreement demonstrates that reconciliation and economic development can go hand-in-hand, by supporting strong environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards as guided by the Tahltan people. This agreement positions B.C. as a preferred

destination for ESG investors and is a tangible demonstration of successful collaboration with First Nations on decisions that affect them and their territories. It reflects the ability to co-create regulatory certainty for major projects.

Section 7 of the Declaration Act provides a mechanism for the Province to recognize in law Indigenous jurisdiction and decisions within the provincial statutory decision-making framework. Section 7 of the Environmental Assessment Act provides the enabling legislation required under the Declaration Act for the decision-making agreement between Tahltan and the Province.

Quotes:

Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation –

“This agreement is the first consent-based agreement for decision-making ever to be negotiated under the Declaration Act. It is a tangible example of the Province’s commitment to changing our relationship with Indigenous peoples. Together, the Tahltan Central Government and the Province are leading the way toward a new model for advancing free, prior and informed consent.”

George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy –

”Through this consent agreement, we are weaving together the processes of two governments, with both Tahltan knowledge and western science informing our shared environmental assessment decision-making and supporting collaborative and ecologically sound economic development. We are breaking new ground in how the provincial government, First Nations and companies can work together – recognizing jurisdiction for decisions in a Nation’s territory. We are creating regulatory clarity and greater certainty for investors, while protecting our natural environment for the generations to come.”

Josie Osborne, Minister of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship –

“This agreement is a remarkable milestone for the Province and the Tahltan Central Government, and a powerful example of what can be achieved when we work together. We will build on this progress as we develop a path forward with First Nations towards collective stewardship, fair and timely decisions and a resource management system that supports reconciliation, environmental sustainability and lasting economic benefits for British Columbians.”

Tahltan Central Government

Preserving Endangered Language Through Innovative and Accessible Dictionary Project

Press Release | April 25, 2022

DEASE LAKE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, April 25, 2022 –

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Language Department has begun development of a multi-modal Tāłtān dictionary that builds on the foundations of the existing Tahltan Children’s Illustrated Dictionary created in the 1990’s. The multi-modal dictionary will be an online tool that will include both audio files to help pronunciation and written form for each documented word in each Tahltan dialect.

This Nation-wide initiative is supported by The Language Conservancy, the foremost organization working with endangered languages in North America. The Language Conservancy leverages technology to develop dictionaries for in the space of Indigenous language revitalization initiatives. They are a leader in the use of ground-breaking technology to build language resources – namely multi-modal dictionaries using an innovative method called Rapid Word Collection (RWC). The Tāłtān Dictionary Project has been thoughtfully designed to work with all Tahltan Elders and language speakers that want to participate in this historical work and employ other Tahltans who would like to be involved.

The TCG Language Department has begun a staggered approach with documentation of language with fluent speakers happening in each of the Nation’s three Communities in Tahltan Territory, Tatl’ah - Dease Lake, Tlēgōhīn - Telegraph Creek, and Łuwechōn – Iskut. The TCG will work with fluent speakers from outside of the territory during next documentation phases. Once this work has been completed, there will be a web-based

dictionary and an App available. The App will be free and once downloaded, users can access the dictionary without internet or cell service.

During a conversation a Tahltan Elder had with her grandson, he asked her, “grandma why do you want to work? We do not need the money?” She replied, “it is for the future generations I am doing this, so that they can learn from it. We need to gather as many words as we can,” said Mary Quock, Tahltan Elder.

“Our language identifies who we are as Tahltan people. It is reconciliation in my terms. Because it is bringing people back together,” said Pat Etzerza, Tahltan Elder.

“Our team has been hard at work, supported by Elders and knowledge keepers in Tahltan Territory and beyond to create this important tool to both preserve and reclaim our language, knowledge, and culture. This resource will support our people learning their language and being able to pass their knowledge on to future generations. I am so thrilled to see this work progress in such a good way and give thanks to everyone connected to this work – past, present, and future. Mēduh,” said Chad Norman Day, President, Tahltan Central Government.

“The process of developing this dictionary has evolved into so much more than just developing a dictionary. The work has brought Tahltans together - Elders, speakers, and learners together in a way that has not been possible for some time especially during the pandemic. The work has provided a space -- both a

physical and virtual space, for those with a shared vision to work on language together as a collective. It has been an amazing journey to witness. I look forward to our next phases,” said Pamela Labonte, Language Director, Tahltan Central Government.

“The Dictionary Project is a legacy piece that will make our language accessible to all membership. It will be a living document that will help keep our language alive. I am proud to have contributed alongside my Elders,” said Dhakāle Hayle Gallup, Tatl’ah Language Programming Coordinator, Tahltan Central Government.

“This dictionary is not just a dictionary – is a HUGE part of our history,” said Verna Vance, Tahltan Scribe.

“My greatest motivation is to keep the language alive and thriving for future generations,” said Skye Whiting, Tahltan Scribe.

“Our current dictionary is good, but we must add to it while we have fluent speakers,” said Kathy Cottrell, Tahltan Scribe.

It is an honour for me to be a part of the dictionary. It was so awesome to connect and learn from the Elders. We laughed and shared stories. This is something I wanted all my life – to learn more of our language, Tāłtān – Didene keh. To bring it back and keep it alive, we are still here! It makes me very proud and happy to speak the language. My heart soars. I hope to inspire others so we can save our language from being endangered. Our language, our stories, our traditions, our teachings of life, our culture, our medicine. To honour our Ancestors and the next generations. I have lots to learn and even more to teach. Mēduh,” said Lesli Louie, Tahltan Scribe.

The ongoing work of the TCG Language Department is designed to implement and support initiatives that cultivate an environment to develop Tāłtān proficiencies by making language visible and accessible, engaging with Tahltan people, and creating sacred and safe spaces to learn Tāłtān. The department works to support the development of Tāłtān speakers through Nation-wide reclamation initiatives that reach everyone of Tahltan ancestry, regardless of geographical location. Tāłtān has been identified as a critically endangered language which further speaks to the importance of progressing this work forward in a positive way – for all Tahltans.

Above: Theresa Etzerza

Left: Janet Vance and Margery Inkster Sr.

Together we achieved great things in 2022/2023

TCG EMPLOYEES

We have significantly increased the number of TCG employees over the years: 2016 = 8; 2018 = 16; 2019 = 25; 2020 = 30; 2023 = 42

TCG COMMUNICATIONS & EXTERNAL RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Wins National & International Communications Awards with an IABC Silver Leaf Award in the National Award of Excellence in the Communication Management division and Canadian Public Relations Society Awards of Excellence under the Brand Development Campaign of the Year category and Silver under the Best Publication category for our Fish & Wildlife Newsletter.

TENH DZ ETLE CONSERVANCY ESTABLISHED

A new Conservancy created to protect lands surrounding Mount Edziza Provincial Park which were previously mineral tenures.

TĀŁTĀN DICTIONARY

Began development of multimodal dictionary to preserve our endangered Tāłtān language which will be launched later in 2023.

TNDC PROTOCOL AGREEMENT RESTRUCTURE

Which meant increased dividends to the TCG and supported TCG's decision to provide of 10% of their dividends to the Tahltan Elder Distribution Fund.

ESKAY CREEK REVITALIZATION PROJECT

TCG made history by signing the first ever consent-based decisionmaking agreement under Section 7 of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in relation to Eskay Creek Revitalization Project which honours Tahltan jurisdiction in land management decisions in Tahltan Territory and provides the decision to say “yes” or “no” to the Project.

PROSPECTORS & DEVELOPERS ASSOCIATION OF CANADA (PDAC)

TCG President Chad Norman Day gave two keynote addresses at PDAC conference in Toronto on “Free, Prior and Informed Consent: Navigating the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples”, and “Empowering Indigenous Entrepreneurs: Increasing Industry Participation Through Procurement, Employee Training and Retention.” President Day brought along many passionate Youth for an amazing experience in Toronto.

TOURISM DEPARTMENT

We created our Tourism Department to diversify the Tahltan economy.

HEATH & WELLNESS DEPARTMENT

We created a new department to support health and wellness of Tahltans.

HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS COURSE

Partnered with TNDC, Province of BC, and industry partners including the Centre of Training Excellence in Mining, Coast Mountain College, Contact North BC, Finning, Mining in HR Council, Newcrest Mining Limited and SkilledTrades BC to create pilot Heavy Equipment Operators training program in Tahltan Territory to support skill development in territory.

TCG – BC ACCORD ON WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

After years of work, TCG and the Province signed the Accord agreeing to work together toward co-operative wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory that respects and supports the Tahltan Nation’s ongoing work to improve wildlife populations, food security, and community safety.

TAHLTAN NIGHT

TCG hosted the first ever Tahltan Night Gala during the AME Roundup in Vancouver to celebrate and share our Tahltan culture with Tahltans, industry partners, and BC, Yukon, and Northwest Territories government representatives. The event featured a display of Tahltan belongings and artifacts from the Museum of Anthropology.

PREDATOR MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION

We are supporting Tahltan people in taking predator management into their own hands through this framework through harvesting wolves and grizzly bears. Includes the hiring of multiple full-time Predator Management Technicians.

TAHLTAN NATION FEATURED AT THE VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

Film on the work of the TCG Culture & Heritage Department featured in the world premiere of Unarchived

LAUNCHED TAHLTAN STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE WEBSITE

tsi.tahltan.org has been designed to support the Tahltan Nation to have a say on matters that impact our land, rights, and wellbeing.

RECEIVED $1M IN FUNDING FOR TĀŁTĀN SIGNAGE PROJECT

This will support updating and installing signage within Tahltan Territory to include Tāłtān language, culture, storytelling, and worldview as guided by the Tahltan Nation.

What else did we accomplish?

Among other things:

2023 AME Roundup – TCG and TNDC led another successful Youth trip to the AME Roundup in Vancouver with 10 Youth delegates.

TCG and School District 87 will collaborate to offer annual international trips to Dease Lake graduates.

Hosted in-person engagement sessions following the COVID-19 Pandemic including our Annual General Assembly, Elders Council Meetings, TCG’s Job Fair & Natural Resource Forum, and department engagements.

TCG delegation travelled to Australia to view Newcrest’s Cadia Mine for example of proposed block-caving method at Red Chris Mine in Tahltan Territory.

Finance

Michael Shaker Chief Financial Officer

Exerting thorough financial oversight over the organization and adopting sound and diligent cash management techniques, in addition to the proper and timely allocation of resources, based on the constant and necessary operational requirements and needs, has been and will always be the Nation’s solid foundation in sustaining its financial health and future prosperity.

I am supported and assisted by Cindy Dennis, the Senior Finance Clerk who has consistently served the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) for the past ten years. She has also been tremendous in her work, and I consider her the real pillar of the Finance Department and of the whole organization.

Achievements During the Year

We have successfully closed our books for the 20222023 fiscal year and our independent auditors will once again be presenting our financial statements at the Annual General Assembly (AGA) for our members.

In TCG, we have established an annual robust process which casts a heavy focus on forecasting, creating an aggregate TCG Board-approved organizationalwide budget and work plans, which is built from all departments. This allowed for greater oversight on all TCG programs and initiatives, which in turn reflects the combined and harmonized delivery of services in each segment and on all fronts, based on wellprepared, strategic, and highly synchronized decision-making processes.

Financial Highlights in Fiscal Year 2023

• TCG Received $1.2M in the aggregate from the Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) for its 2022 fiscal year dividends, of which ten per cent went to the Elders Fund to support the increase in Elders’ payments of $400/year/Elder.

• Elders’ payments were $1,800 to each member for an amount totaling $600,000.

• Impact Benefit Agreements (IBA) Annual contribution Revenues amounting to $535,000 and are as follows:

85,000

The following graphs showcase major historic figures reflecting the organizational performances through the years along with a special focus on revenues and data.

PROVINCIAL TAX REVENUES FISCAL YEAR END 2022-2023

ALLOCATION OF PROVINCIAL TAX REVENUES FISCAL YEAR 2022-2023

TCG RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

ELDERS PAYMENTS

The following graphs illustrate revenue sharing contributions made by TCG to Tahltan Band, Iskut Band, and Dease Lake Community throughout the years.

SIGNING BONUSES THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

TCG LANGUAGE CONTRIBUTION

In the Works

Due to the increased demand on accounting and reporting, resulting from the expansion and the growth of departments with their operations, and realizing the importance of capacity building, we are consequently increasing our capacity in the Finance Department this year. We have been focusing on fiscal improvements, continued progress on streamlining, applying best practices and advancement of the accounting system, that will eventually lead to stronger internal controls and more accurate financial reporting.

We are still waiting to hear back from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regarding our application for “Qualified Donee Status.” We believe that if we were to be successful in the outcome and gained such status, TCG will be tax exempt from any potential income tax in the future, eliminating risks from any kind of tax exposure to TCG.

We concluded our review of Tahltan Heritage Trust Indenture with Borden Ladner Gervais (BLG) Law firm. Potential recommendations have been identified and communicated to the Board of Trustees. Next steps would be to engage the Tahltan Band and Iskut Band to consider creating a newer document satisfying today’s era of trust policies and protocols for the future benefit of the Nation’s members at large.

In Closing

Adopting more meaningful and practical financial policies and procedures will further assist in facilitating our operations. Also, by using our resources and expertise more collaboratively, efficiently, and effectively, in a more consistent, fair, and transparent way, will naturally help Leadership to better govern and make more informative decisions.

I thank you all for allowing me the opportunity to serve you diligently and to contribute every effort to progress and improve all financial aspects that will ultimately lead to the Nation’s success.

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

REVENUE: $14.9M

PROVINCIAL TAX REVENUE PROVINCE OF BC GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENTS

IBA & NEGOTIATIONS

DISTRIBUTION FROM TAHLTAN HERITAGE TRUST OTHERS

REVENUE (COMPARISON): $14.2M

Note: Investment pick up is not included in 2023’s revenue figure due to the Financial Statements for Tahltan Nation Development Limited Partnership being unavailable.

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

EXPENSES: $13.9M PART I

35 %

15 % 13 %

EXPENSES: $13.9M PART II

10 %

CONSULTING FEES $1.1M

10 %

PROFESSIONAL FEES $1.2M

6 %

PROGRAM RELATED EXPENSES $1.3M

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

EXPENSES: $13.9M PART III

EXPENSES: HIGHEST PAID CONTRACTORS/VENDORS

TUNDRA HELICOPTERS LTD.

DUNCAN MCLAREN

LGL LIMITED

ACTION ATHLETIC WEAR LTD.

COLOUR TIME

DEASE LAKE SUPER A

HYDROLOGIC CONSULTING INC.

GW SOLUTIONS INS.

MANDELL PINDER

SHAUNA CONTRACTING

MARITIME TRAVEL

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

EXPENSES (COMPARISON): $13.9 M

EXCESS OF REVENUE OVER EXPENSES (COMPARISON)

(PREVIOUS)

Earnings from investment in Tahltan Nation Development Limited Partnership for 2022 were $6.3M. This information was not unavailable at the time the 2022 financial statements were issued.

(RESTATED)

The 2022 financial statements were restated after financial information of Tahltan Nation Development Limited Partnership became available during 2023.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

CURRENT ASSETS: $33.2M

CASH ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

CURRENT LIABILITIES: $9.6M

ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUALS DEASE LAKE FUND

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

LONG-TERM ASSETS: $23.5M

INVESTMENT IN TAHLTAN DEVELOPMENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

TAHLTAN HERITAGE TRUST TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS

LONG-TERM LIABILITIES: $16.7M

LONG-TERM DEFERRED REVENUE

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

NET ASSETS: $30.5 M

INVESTED IN TAHLTAN NATION DEVELOPMENT LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

INVESTED IN TANGIBLE CAPITAL ASSETS

UNRESTRICTED

INVESTED IN TAHLTAN HERITAGE TRUST

NET ASSETS (COMPARISON)

Lands

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

I am honoured to present the Lands Annual Report submission as the Lands Director of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG). This past year I had the honour of joining the TCG as Lands Director and have since been working very closely with the team in the Lands Department to advance the protection, management, and stewardship of Tahltan lands through the foundational application of Tahltan knowledge, values, and worldviews.

Connor Pritty Lands Director

In the past year, we have continued to work closely with elected Leadership, community members, industry, and government officials to ensure that Tahltan land stewardship continually draws on the knowledge, values, and worldviews of the Tahltan Nation to guide decisions and activities within Tahltan Territory. The Lands Department has been very busy and will continue to evolve to ensure that the department continues to meet the stewardship directions of the Tahltan Nation and provides the tools to guide decisions and actions within Tahltan Territory in a manner that aligns with that vision.

Tahltan Territory continues to face challenges in protecting lands and resources from development and industrial interests. We remain committed, however, to working tirelessly on behalf of the Nation to ensure that Tahltan lands are protected. A foundational component to achieving this protection for future generations is the recent completion of the Lands Department’s “Stewarding Tahltan Lands for Future Generations” – Strategic Plan. This plan focuses on initiatives that progressively develop and support the long-term vision of achieving successful protection and stewardship of Tahltan lands based on Tahltan laws, knowledge, and worldviews for future generations. The successful implementation of this plan will be essential for the Lands Department over

the next three years. It is an “umbrella” that includes a number of key strategic goals that support natural resource management in Tahltan Territory and the advancement of Tahltan jurisdiction, decisionmaking, and protection of significant areas for future generational use.

Complimentary to this plan, is the committed advancement over the next year to the further development and implementation of the Lands Department Tahltan Environmental Assessment Strategy. This past year, the department developed and implemented a policy that provides overall direction on conducting impact assessments and recommendations on proposed projects in Tahltan Territory to Tahltan Leadership to support consentbased, informed decision-making. We have also continued to build the Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT), to increase this body’s areas of expertise around tailings, geochemistry, socioeconomics, and groundwater hydrogeology. THREAT, along with the incorporation and guidance of Tahltan knowledge, values, and stewardship principles, continues to ensure that any major project activities proposed in Tahltan Territory, are assessed, designed, and reviewed in a manner that protects Tahltan lands for both current and future generations of the Tahltan Nation.

In closing, I would like to express my gratitude to all those who have contributed to the department’s efforts over the past year. Your support, hard work, and commitment to the department’s progress have helped us significantly improve ongoing efforts to protect and preserve Tahltan Territory. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you in the years ahead and building a better, more sustainable future for all Tahltans.

Lands Department Vision & Mission Statements

Vision Statement

Ȗ To serve the Tahltan Nation through the stewardship, protection, and management of Tahltan lands based on Tahltan laws, knowledge, and modern scientific practices .

Mission Statement

Ȗ A strong and proficient lands administration that supports the Tahltan Nation to make informed natural resource stewardship, protection, and management decisions through robust systems and tools based on Tahltan knowledge, laws, and modern scientific practices

GOALS

• Protection of Tahltan rights and title and Tahltan lands for future generations.

• Progress the Lands Department’s exploration and major project permitting processes.

• Establish effective lands-based compliance and enforcement to protect Tahltan lands.

• Enhance the Lands Department’s information sharing and engagement with Tahltan communities and the Nation.

• Completion of the Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan to ensure that Tahltan lands are stewarded in a manner consistent with Tahltan laws, knowledge, values, and management directions so that the land can continue to support uses for future generations.

PROGRAM AREAS AND OBJECTIVES

The Lands Department’s main program areas relate to the following:

• Lands-based Operations

• Major Projects/THREAT

• Archaeology

• Forestry

• Water

• Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI)

• Tahltan Knowledge Gathering and Application

• Community Engagement

Above: Evening in the Spectrums.

Lands Department Operations

The Lands Department has gone through a significant transition over the past year, making substantial strides in areas of capacity, policy, and land-based compliance development. We continue to build our internal operational effectiveness through standard operating procedures (SOP), a complete re-design of the major projects’ billing/invoicing platform for streamlined efficiency, and an initial land-based compliance program rollout.

As Lands Director, I would also like to acknowledge the addition and promotion of new staff members to our family here at the TCG. In the past year, we have added Blaine Lindstrom as our Shared Engagement Record Coordinator (SER Coordinator) and Roxanne Ball as our Lands Administrative Assistant. We have also promoted Shawn Ducharme to the new role of Major Projects Coordinator. These positions are fundamental to the department effectively achieving its mandated roles and responsibilities, and ensuring that the department stewards, protects and manages Tahltan lands based on Tahltan laws, knowledge, and modern scientific practices.

GOALS

• Revise and reform the permit submission process for exploration and major project permitting in Tahltan Territory.

• Better manage natural resources-related activities through the advancement of tools and technical assistance to support the TCG Lands Department in making informed decisions for Tahltan lands and resources.

• Develop lands-based compliance and enforcement training programs and reporting mechanisms.

• Further develop and implement governance and standard operating procedures to guide Lands Department recommendations and engagement with Leadership.

• Generate a three to five-year training and hiring plan in line with the Lands Department Strategic Plan objectives.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Additional capacity increase of the department for supporting the stewardship, protection and management of Tahltan lands.

Completion of the Tahltan Jade and Placer Recommendations Reform Report under the Placer Jade Collaborative Mineral Working Group. These recommendations highlight the requirement for a complete overhaul of the jade and placer industry. The report covers substantive recommendations pertaining to the permitting process, bonding requirements, reclamation transformation, access management, legacy impacts, revenue-sharing, and compliance and enforcement.

• Securement of initial lands-based compliance assets and staff to support the implementation of Tahltan-led inspections across all mineral and forestry sector activities in Tahltan Territory.

• Development and implementation of the Tahltan Impact Assessment Policy and Tahltan Risk Assessment process for major project Environmental Assessments.

• Standard Operating Procedure advancement and permitting reform for Tahltan Archaeology and Archaeological Standards for mineral activity.

Right: Morning in the Spectrums.

Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI)

Through the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI), the Tahltan Nation is preparing to create transformative change based on the recognition of Tahltan title and rights. The TSI proposes a new method of “land use” planning that focuses on stewardship that maintains the health of the land itself versus the more common historical approach that negotiates land use zones between various human consumptive interests on the land with land stewardship/health being viewed as a constraint that can be traded-off to achieve those consumptive interests.

The TSI vision is: “The Tahltan Nation will fulfill its inherent stewardship responsibilities for all lands, water, air, wildlife, fish and natural resources in Tahltan Territory”. Through the Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan (TLSP) and embodiment of the TSI vision, the TLSP will provide a framework for ensuring that the cultural, spiritual, and ecological values of Tahltan lands are preserved for future generations. The plan will be built on a foundation of respect for the Tahltan Nation’s culture, values, Tahltan knowledge and law, while reflecting Tahltan teachings and guidance to support both current and future land use of the Tahltan Nation.

The TSI project team looks forward to progressing forward with the TSI over the 2023 calendar year. We are excited to re-engage with Tahltan members for direction and input on topics such as the conservation of wildlife, management of economic development,

protection of the environment, relationship to the land, and assertion of jurisdiction over Tahltan Territory. The first round of engagement on the project in the 2023 calendar year will be occurring very soon, with subsequent engagements and opportunities planned over the calendar year.

GOALS

• Define areas that are to be protected that are critical for cultural, spiritual, and environmental values to the Tahltan Nation.

• Establish the Tahltan guiding principles and management objectives in alignment with Tahltan laws, knowledge, values, and worldviews to ensure that the land can continue to support Tahltan uses and values for current and future generations.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Securement of TSI completion target extension until March 31, 2024.

• Completion of the revised TSI project workplan for upcoming year’s activities.

• Completion of annual reporting requirements to Tides Canada and Wilburforce Foundation.

THREAT/ MAJOR PROJECTS

The Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team (THREAT) provides specialized technical services and advice to the Lands Department under the direction and guidance of the Lands Director and Tahltan elected Leadership

The THREAT team comprises representatives who technically review and advise on major project development’s potential impacts on the Tahltan Nation's rights and title. This team, through the direction of the Lands Department and Tahltan Leadership, ensures that the principles of the 1910 Declaration of the Tahltan Tribe, the 1987 Tahltan Tribal Council Resource Development Policy, the 2003 Out of Respect Report, and Tahltan knowledge, values, and laws are continually enforced through active participation in all resource development activities in Tahltan Territory.

GOALS

• Develop processes, tools, and capacity to successfully achieve the commitments of the Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs), governance arrangements with the Province, and environmental oversight structures for any major project activity in Tahltan Territory.

• Refine the Tahltan Environmental Assessment Strategy through lessons learned in ongoing and past Environmental Assessment processes.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Addition of multiple professional members in the areas of Closure and Reclamation, Groundwater Hydrogeology, Socioeconomics and Culture, and Tailings and Project Management.

• Promotion of Shawn Ducharme to Major Projects Coordinator to assist with overseeing the THREAT team of representatives and ensuring that Tahltan knowledge, values, laws, and worldviews are at the foundation of this team’s operational activities to protect Tahltan lands for future generations.

• Secure communication and engagement tools to advance meaningful engagement with members in land-based development, natural resource management, and stewardship of Tahltan lands.

Left: Lands Director Connor Pritty and Major Projects Coordinator Shawn Ducharme.

Major Project Updates

KSM PROJECT

The KSM project owned by Seabridge Gold continues to advance, pursuing a substantial start under their current Environmental Assessment Certificate. The Lands Department focused our resources on ensuring that construction activities, such as the fishery habitat offsetting, are being constructed to align with Tahltan knowledge and protect all Tahltan values (environmental and cultural) in the project’s area of influence. We have a planned site visit in the spring of 2023 to review project works on the road corridor development and ensure the project has implemented all environmental and cultural protection requirements as permit conditions require.

RED CHRIS MINE

The Red Chris Mine is owned and operated by Newcrest. The project has been very active over the past year seeking multiple amendments to its Environmental Assessment Certificate alongside its Mines Act and Environmental Management Act permits. The Lands Department has recently focused on the project’s regulatory review of the camp expansion and five-year Mine and Closure Plan. We have also been working with Newcrest to advance our Environmental Oversight Committee operations for project activities while working to negotiate a consent-based agreement for the upcoming Block Cave Complex Environmental Assessment Amendment procedure. The THREAT team also recently hired a new tailings engineer, who will be focused on supporting the Lands Department review of the current operations of the Red Chris tailings impoundment area and providing technical expertise to ensure that the facility is operating in a manner that aligns with Tahltan stewardship, protection, and values for both environmental and cultural values of the Tahltan Nation.

GALORE CREEK MINE

The Galore Creek Mine is a 50/50 owned partnership between Teck Resource and Newmont. The project intends to re-enter a Complex Environmental Assessment Amendment process in the fall of 2023 to pursue modernization of the project’s environmental commitments under the 2018 Environmental Assessment Act. The Lands Department and THREAT team have been working through a series of technical workshops over the past year to ensure that the project’s changes continue to align with Tahltan knowledge, values and expectations. The Lands Department will conduct multiple site visits to participate in field environmental and archaeological programs over the upcoming summer season.

ESKAY CREEK MINE

The Eskay Creek Mine is owned by Skeena Resources. The project is currently under the 2018 Environmental Assessment process, which has formally entered into the Application Development Phase of the process. The proponent, Skeena Resources, is now developing the project’s application to assess the project’s potential impacts and interactions of various valued components. This application, once complete will be assessed and reviewed by the Province of BC and the TCG Lands Department and THREAT team to ensure that it is aligned with the Tahltan Assessment requirements. The Lands Department will work closely with the Province of BC as joint decision-makers under this Environmental Assessment, as the Tahltan Nation has signed the first-ever consent-based agreement, which requires Tahltan consent before the Eskay Creek Revitalization Project could proceed. The THREAT team and Lands Department are also planning multiple community engagements over the coming year, to ensure that Tahltan knowledge, values, and direction

are collected to inform the Tahltan-led Risk Assessment, which will form the basis for assessing the project’s impacts on Tahltan rights and title, the health of Tahltan lands, and the project’s influence on the continuation of the Tahltan way of life for current and future generations.

SILVERTIP MINE

Coeur Mining owns and operates the Silvertip Mine in the northern reaches of Tahltan Territory near the BC – Yukon border. This project is currently in care and maintenance and has plans to resume operations in the coming years after pursuing an amendment to increase production of the permitted mine. The Lands Department has been participating over the past year in a monthly Environment Technical Working Group, alongside the Mines Review Committee, focused on a Phase 2 Underground Exploration Program. The THREAT team’s focus has been on assessing groundwater and surface water impacts and will be expanded to investigations of the tailings facility in the coming year. The Lands Department has also planned to complete an upcoming visit to the site to review project operations and participate in planned environmental and archaeological fieldwork programs.

KUTCHO COPPER

The Kutcho Project is owned by Kutcho Copper and is located in the Turnagain region of Tahltan Territory. The Lands Department has participated

in monthly environmental project meetings over the past year. The THREAT team’s engagement has focused on providing input into the project’s planned future re-entrance to an Environmental Assessment. The Lands Department continues to ensure that Tahltan knowledge, values, and technical requirements are embodied at the foundation of the project’s plans for any re-entrance into a planned Environmental Assessment.

GIGA METALS

The Giga Metals Project is owned by Giga Metals Corporation and is located in the Turnagain region of Tahltan Territory. The Lands Department and THREAT team have been engaging over the past year on various environmental working groups to continue to provide Tahltan direction and input into the project’s various stages as they advance. The past year has been focused on completing the Tahltan Land Use and Occupancy Study, which is intended to be finalized by mid-late summer 2023. This document will be a foundational piece to ensuring the Lands Department has a preliminary understanding in addition to the Tahltan Ancestral Study (TAS) to incorporate Tahltan knowledge and values in the project’s area of influence. The Lands Department and THREAT team will continue to participate and guide the project’s activities over the coming year and look forward to hosting future engagements on the project with community members in the later half of 2023.

Lands Department Staffing Overview

The Lands Department has recently expanded to include four (4) full-time employees and one full-time contractor advisor. An overview of the departments staff is provided below:

Name Role & Position

Connor Pritty Lands Director

Shawn Ducharme Major Projects Coordinator

Blaine Lindstrom SER Coordinator

Roxanne Ball Lands Administrator

Norm MacLean Senior Lands and THREAT Technical Advisor

Culture & Heritage

Sandra Marion Culture & Heritage Director

Well, as our spring has ended and we are starting to move into summer 2023, it is a good time for us to reflect on this last year. Since our last Annual General Assembly (AGA) we have accomplished quite a bit here in the Culture & Heritage Department.

We have had to re-shift our budget for the aerial Elder flights last summer from the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) to another funding organization. We applied for the Indigenous Resilience and Recovery Fund with the assistance of our Communications & External Relations Department, and we were successful. They have agreed to fund us at $72,000 a year for 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025. Unfortunately, we did not receive confirmation or the funds until August 2022, so many of our warmer months had already passed, and we were unable to support more than one group for last year, which I will touch on more after I make this year’s plans clearer.

Since bringing Mariko Waite on board, she has become the main contact for our department to the Elders. I have had her calling Elders about events and meetings, she has attended a previous Elders gathering in Dease Lake, and she supports the Elders’ Council meetings as they occur. From her relationship building, we have moved on to her calling the Elders to set up times and locations for the possible on the land Elder flights that the Elders would like to conduct. We have set aside time blocks through the summer when our historian Ben Jones, and our Multimedia Director, Adam Amir, are available to conduct Elder interviews.

The Archives project has been coming along nicely. We have most of the legacy collection catalogued and organized. We have refocused our attention on the Collections Management software, and the access policy. We continue to be at a bit of an impasse, so we need to get the Culture & Heritage Committee involved in some of the recommendation making rationale. We are hoping to have the Terms of Reference for said committee drafted and to be ready to launch the expression of interest this summer.

Lesli Louie, resident of Dease Lake, has joined our team. We have been sharing her roles and responsibilities with the Language Department. She is going to be one of our documentation specialists. She is heavily involved in both the Elders interviews as well as the archaeology work. The warmer season has hit, and she is in full swing working in and out of camps like Galore and Schaft Creek.

We have ramped up the involvement in Tahltan dancing as well as sewing nights in territory and have launched our first evening in Terrace. The department directors

for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) have been working on coordinating the roles of the Cultural Community Liaisons and the expressions of interest call out should be released shortly. We will be seeking out administrative support for our Culture & Heritage and Language meetings, but also as TCG information coordinators all rolled into one position per community. We are excited to be able to deliver more programs as it has been a long time coming.

As you have seen in our Spring Newsletter, we have achieved qualified repository status with the BC Archaeology Branch and since then have been sending out letters to consulting groups as well as proponents to notify them that the TCG Archives office is now available to receive artifacts that have been removed from their original location in Tahltan Territory. It is a huge step in the right direction of bringing home Tahltan artifacts and belongings to the territory and to our people.

Above: Detail of a Tahltan artifact at the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology.

Pamela Labonte Language Director

At-a-GlanceAccomplishments for 2022-2023

OUR CONTINUOUSLY GROWING LANGUAGE TEAM

In addition to working with many talented, dedicated, and passionate people committed to working in language in various capacities, the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Language Department team continues to grow internally. Kathy Cottrell joined the team in September 2022 as Language Nest Manager. The Language Department welcomed the new addition to our language family in a more formal capacity. Kathy moved back home to the territory to learn the language and reconnect with her Tahltan roots and she and her husband now call Dease Lake home. As the Language Nest Manager in Dease Lake, she is responsible for creating the Nest Re-opening Plan for Fall 2023 and assisting the Tatl’ah Language Coordinator in language duties related to community language programming, and participating in the TCG Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP) to continue on her path to becoming fluent in Tāłtān. Once the Nest is operational, she will be overseeing the day-to-day operations.

TCG LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT PROGRAMMING AND INITIATIVES

Overall, this past year has been about growing our foundations established in previous years and maintaining already implemented language initiatives. Programming included initiatives such as the TCG Language Facebook Page, FirstVoices Portal, Zoom Tāłtān language lessons, and, of course, continuing the development of our Tāłtān Dictionary Project. In addition, this year, we worked steadily at laying the foundations for new initiatives, such as the TCG Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP), as part of our regular programming offerings for the Nation.

Tāłtān Dictionary Project

We focused this past year on Phases Two, Three, and Four of the Tāłtān Dictionary Project, bringing us closer to the completion stages. In May 2022, Language Keepers, Knowledge Holders, and language advocates working on the dictionary gathered in Terrace to document more language and expand on the initial database. We used Terrace as the hub location to support the work for Phase Two so that other speakers from out of territory could join the work. The week was as much about connection as it was about documentation. We had new people join and saw many familiar faces that have been with the project since the beginning. We also had many visitors drop in and join us during lunch gatherings.

Word spread fast that the language group was in town. CFTK TV News even interviewed us in Terrace, and the interview aired on May 27, 2022. It was an inspiring time for all of us, and the excitement had ripple effects throughout the department. At that time, we had close to 6,000 entries in the database from the two Rapid Word Collection (RWC) events.

Phase Three kicked off the beginning of the review phase in the summer months. Those from the group working on the project's back end received specialized training from the Language Conservancy (TLC) in August. Once again, they gathered in Terrace for training and learned the methods and technologies used to process and review all documented language collected. We have had ongoing support from TLC during all critical stages as we navigate the systematic review process integral in ensuring all language entries are vetted for accuracy and quality.

Those working on the dictionary behind the scenes continued to process the language collected from Phase Three as we prepared for Phase Four with another round of language documentation towards the latter part of the year.

We wrapped up another amazing round of documentation in Dease Lake in March 2023. Creating a dictionary means we are not only documenting the language, but through this project, we are also able to bring people together in a sacred and intentional space. We dedicated the first two weeks of March to continuing the work as we entered into the next and what are to be some of the final stages.

We again saw an expansion of people participating from both in the territory and those who could travel from outside the territory to come and join the group. Dease Lake served as the central location for the work during one of the coldest periods in March. Phase Four consisted of filling in gaps identified in Phase Three and expanding the dictionary database to ensure both dialects are represented, thus creating a more robust dictionary for all users.

We had three locations and four breakout groups tasked with completing the work. In addition, there was also a fourth location in Iskut for those who could not be in Dease Lake so they could still contribute from their home location. Language Keepers reviewed each entry for accuracy and ensured both dialects were accurately represented. They recorded example sentences accompanying the basic word collection from previous stages and added new entries when possible. These were additional productive and heartfelt weeks where people connected through the language.

This page, all photos: Dease Lake, March 2023 during Phase Four of the Tāłtān Dictionary Project.

TCG Mentor-Apprentice Program (MAP)

The TCG MAP officially launched in November 2022 with an onboarding orientation day for all participants (mentors and apprentices). This program intends to create an intentional and meaningful space for developing Tāłtān speakers. The program's primary outcome is to develop fluent speakers by providing a unique opportunity for language learners to develop advanced proficiencies through time spent with speakers. It also allows mentors to pass language and traditional cultural teachings through the generations. The MAP application for apprentices was available online from June to mid-September and successful applicants were contacted shortly thereafter while we prepared for everyone's onboarding in November.

The MAP orientation was held in Tatl'ah (Dease Lake) on November 4 and was a full day of connection and getting everyone comfortable with the program in a good way. All participants received MAP starter kits with program essentials as they learned more about the program details and structure, and set intentions and goals. The day began with a sharing circle, allowing participants to share their program goals – their reasons for participating as we started this journey as a collective. We shared a few laughs (and maybe a few healing tears) before ending the day with a beautiful meal. All in all, it was a positive and productive way to start this next journey together. Each apprentice has had their own experience in the program, and we continue to navigate and evolve the program to fit participants' needs. We will look at evolving the program more over this next year to meet individual needs further and ensure the program's sustainability in future years.

Tāłtān Placenames and Landmarks

Documentation comes in all forms when it comes to language work and for this unique documentation initiative, we worked in conjunction with the Culture & Heritage Department.

Plans to document Tāłtān placenames and landmarks in Tahltan Territory had been in the works for quite some time. After much planning and through the on-the-ground support of the Tahltan and Iskut Bands, we made it a reality for all involved. So far, we have engaged with Tahltan Nation community members, Language Keepers, and Knowledge Holders in two of the three communities in territory to continue work on Tāłtān placenames and landmarks. We still need to engage with those in Iskut before we enter into more rounds of this initiative. Nevertheless, the time spent on this project thus far has been rewarding and heartwarming. We have built on the foundational work already completed while expanding the knowledge base by working with those who know the territory best.

Orange Shirts

In honor of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 20, The Language Department supported TCG in designing orange shirts with the Tahltan phrase ‘Tsedẕe edōne edanādih’ which translates to “I respect all the children.” The phrase was decided upon as a collective from the Language Working Group consisting of Tahltan Language Keepers and Knowledge Holders. The day was a great success and shirts were distributed in each community in territory and sent out to members who had requested them outside of the territory. Mēduh to the Language Working Group who contributed their knowledge to the project.

Top: TCG MentorApprentice Program (MAP).

Bottom: Orange shirts being distributed in the territory.

Tāłtān Signage Project

Led by the Communications & External Relations Department, the Language Department, along with other TCG departments, is collaborating with the Tahltan and Iskut Bands and other key stakeholders through the assembly of a Tāłtān Signage Working Group to develop a multi-year strategic plan with a phased approach for signage in the territory. The Language Department will be responsible for ensuring correct language for signage where necessary and appropriate. To date, we have held working group meetings that included internal and external stakeholders (TCG and the Tahltan and Iskut Band representatives) to receive input on the proposed strategic plan draft, developed a project charter for the initiative, and moved forward collaboratively as a group for signage in the territory. I am pleased to report that we have also held several meetings with the relevant ministries to move the phased plan forward.

TĀŁTĀN NAMING POLICY

We spent this past year working towards developing a TCG Tāłtān Naming Policy in conjunction with the Communications & External Relations Department. The policy will standardize and formalize the process for requests from both external sources (such as natural resource project proponents) and internal sources (such as TCG departments) to determine and designate Tāłtān names to projects, initiatives, programs, conservancies, or any other requests for Tāłtān names that have a connection to Tahltan at the Nation level. We will be presenting to the TCG Board of Directors to formalize the policy as a standard procedure for all naming requests.

The goals of this policy are to:

• streamline and standardize the process through which Tāłtān names are determined and designated;

• ensure the name determination process is transparent;

• support the collective input of Tahltan Language Keepers, Elders, and Knowledge Holders on Tāłtān name determinations;

• provide information to all TCG departments, members, and other interested parties about the name request and selection process; and

• ensure that any Tāłtān names selected are representative of and meaningful to the Tahltan Nation as a whole.

Tāłtān Curriculum Framework

A Tāłtān Curriculum Framework intended for primary and secondary education settings (Kindergarten to Grade 8 but can be applied up to Grade 12) was previously developed circa 2020. The curriculum

was near completion but not formally implemented at the ministry level when I stepped into the role of Language Director. The Language Department, with the support of the Communications & External Relations Department, spent the later part of 2022 securing foundations to move the curriculum forward for ministry approval. Implications include Tāłtān being a recognized and accredited language at the provincial level. This means students (from Kindergarten to Grade12) will have Tāłtān as a language option, and high school students can obtain credit for post-secondary requirements. Years of work and dedication have gone into this framework, and it will be a historical step forward once implemented and recognized provincially. These next steps will take time to ensure all proper measures and appropriate protocols have been considered and progress is underway. Important to note is that this initiative intersects with Education & Training Department mandates, so we will work together on the next steps.

Concurrently, we are working on a pilot program with Smithers Secondary School (SSS) to support Tahltan students in receiving language credits for Tāłtān. These credits will be used towards their post-secondary applications for their language requirement and allow them to have the choice to receive credit for Tāłtān. This benefits not only the students in the pilot program but also TCG as part of the curriculum roll out. We are following the Tāłtān Curriculum Framework and providing support in a sustainable way that will eventually, through internal capacity building, be able to extend to other schools to benefit all members and not just students from SSS enrolled in the pilot. The pilot program, in this way, helps our department directly as a way to assess the curriculum in practice outside of the theoretical plane, work out any kinks, and strategically determine how we can sustainably address anticipated gaps once the curriculum is provincially implemented (i.e., a lack of teachers who are proficient in Tāłtān outside of the territory, and few fluent speakers to support classroom instruction for non-Tāłtān speaking teachers, to name a few.

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with School District 87 (SD87)

The Language Department is working towards establishing an MOU with SD87 to establish a formal relationship with the school district by outlining what that collaborative partnership entails to ensure solid foundations for a mutual partnership in this space to guide all future work. The MOU is being crafted in collaboration with the Communications & External Relations Department, and Education & Training Department and is being vetted through the TCG’s Legal Counsel to ensure proper steps are being taken. We look forward to how this new relationship will forge the path for true reconciliation and reciprocity in this space for Tahtlan students within the district. Once implemented, this model can pave the way for future partnerships in similar capacities for the Tahltan Nation and other Nations.

Tatl’ah Language Programming

This year has been a full one for our Language team. Below are some of the initiatives that I would like to showcase as a recap of the 2022 year.

SCHOOL DISTRICT 87 (SD87)

My relationship with the school district and the Dease Lake School continues to flourish. The administration and teachers continue to be committed to making space for the Tāłtān language programming. We have rented the portable space next to Dease Lake School. This building is named Dahdẕāge Hōdeside Kime which translates to “we’re speaking our language house” in English. The space supports many language initiatives and has become our classroom, office space, and meeting space. Our team has been supporting the school in various capacities, including:

K-7 Language Programming

Dease Lake school has not had a language teacher in some time, so we decided to fill that gap. Sonia Dennis has been providing language lessons twice a week to the Kindergarten to Grade 7 students. Our program is unique, in that, Elders and language learners support Sonia in the classroom by modelling conversation for the students.

Graduation

Graduating from high school is such an achievement, so our team decided to wrap the graduating class in our language on their special day. Commissioned by Tahltan/Tlingit artist, Una Ann, each graduate received a satin sash which displayed the student’s clan, grad year, and a Tāłtān phrase. This year the Tāłtān phrase read Esgha Sadesdih – “I am proud of myself” which was provided by the Language Working Group. Each student was gifted a sash by some of our Language Keepers. This beautiful tradition is one that I hope to continue for the years to come.

CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR NATIONWIDE LANGUAGE PROGRAMMING

Zoom Language Lessons

Our Zoom language lessons continue to be a hit Nationwide. We have met relatives near and far who are excited about learning the language. Recently, the Zoom lessons

have undergone a structural change. I am excited to announce that Pauline Hawkins, language teacher at Tahltan School in Telegraph Creek, has taken on the role of instructor for this initiative. We are delighted to have Pauline on board as she brings such a wealth of linguistic and cultural knowledge to her lessons.

If you are interested in attending one of our Zoom lessons, they will be occurring once a month. These lessons will be advertised via poster on our social media platforms and emails. Do not miss out; come join us.

Language Working Group

This year we established a Language Working Group which consists of all language staff and language speakers from each community in the territory. The working group is designed so that all speakers/ language workers in territory, are included on every Nation-wide project/initiative that our team has. This ensures that the work moves forward in a good way and is reflective of both dialects through the collective input of all those in language. The group integrates the collective input of all Tahltan Language Keepers who wish to participate.

The Language Working Group supports our team by brainstorming words/phrases that can be used for projects/initiatives, the naming of large-scale projects/ initiatives, and spell checking. Some initiatives that the Language Working Group have consulted on are the previously mentioned Tatl’ah Language Centre name Dahdẕāge Hōdeside Kime, phrases for the orange shirts, and graduation sashes for the Tatl’ah grads, to name a few.

Hayle Gallup Language Programming Coordinator

Top: Sonia Dennis and Kitty Brown teaching Tāłtān in Dahdzāge Hōdeside Kime.

K’asbā’e T’oh - Language Nest Re-opening

Our Language team is looking forward to the re-opening of the Language Nest K’asbā’e T’oh (Ptarmigan’s Nest) in Tatl’ah (Dease Lake). Some nest related updates are:

First Peoples’ Cultural Council (FPCC) Pathways to Language Vitality Grant – 2022-2023 Year

Our department was a successful candidate for the FPCC Pathways to Language Vitality Grant this past year. This grant ensured that our Dease Lake Language Nest re-opening project is financially supported as well as operationally guided throughout the re-opening process with support and specialized training FPCC has in place for their recipients.

• With the FPCC grant funds, we were able to hire a Nest Manger, Kathy Cottrell in September 2022. The Nest Manager is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the language nest and ensuring it is ready to open this upcoming fall. This past September, Kathy and I travelled to Vancouver to partake in Language Nest Training which was being offered by the FPCC. We left feeling inspired to tackle this project of re-opening the nest together. We were also fortunate to have the opportunity to participate in regular virtual training offered throughout the year.

ȽÁU, WEL EW TRIBAL SCHOOL

In the fall, I travelled to Victoria, BC to visit the ȽÁU, WELṈEW Tribal School. While there, I witnessed full immersion programming from Kindergarten to Grade 5 with bilingual programming for the rest of the grades. The key language staff took the time to give me a tour, include me in their morning protocol, invite me to their language lexicon group meetings, and let be observe immersion classrooms. I am excited for this Nation-to-Nation mentoring that is happening as we explore programming options for immersion settings in education.

TAHLTAN DANCING

Guided by the structure of previous dance groups, the TCG has established the Youth Tahltan Dancers Program which is spearheaded by myself, Sandra Marion, and Christina Callbreath. This program consists of Youth that attend the Dease Lake School from Grades 8 to 12. It offers Youth the opportunity to continue to learn traditional songs, dances, cultural protocols, language, and public speaking skills. In

February, five students/dancers were chosen to join TCG at Hobiyee, the Nisga’a New Year Celebration. The dancers learned about regalia and performing by attending this special event. The goal of this trip was to instill an intrinsic motivation toward Tahltan Dancing by witnessing another Nation perform. It was a wonderful weekend for all.

The dance group meets twice a week, Mondays and Wednesdays, from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. On Mondays, we focus on regalia making and on Wednesdays, we focus on learning introductions, singing, and dancing. We are honoured to have the support of many talented individuals from our Nation, especially regarding regalia making. Christine Creyke, Carmen Dennis, and Una Ann have truly made this program possible by sharing their knowledge with us and supporting the Youth in the making of their regalia. We want the Youth to feel proud of being Didene Ke.

Bottom, from

Dhakāle Hayle Gallup (Tatl’ah Language Programming Coordinator); Teneal Nole (parent); Kendra Nole (dancer); Melody Dennis (dancer); Madison Dennis (dancer); and Christina Callbreath (Dease Lake Community Director). Missing from the photo are dancers Emily Hawkins and Layla Nole.

Top: ŁÁU, WELNEW Tribal School, Victoria, BC.

left:

Dease Lake Community

2022

Christina Callbreath

Dease Lake Community Director

I started the position of Dease Lake Community Director in October of 2021. I develop community programs and activities for Dease Lake, facilitate community planning, raise funds for community wellness, support and maintain Tahltan culture, and administer community funding applications. The position also has responsibilities besides community works. I have also worked closely with the renovations and caretaking of the BC Services Building and I work with the Dease Lake Recreation Center as a board member. It quickly turned into a big job, and one that keeps me hopping.

Since I started, I began meeting with community members and stakeholders. I paired with Hayle Gallup, our Language Coordinator, to hold meetings with the purpose of determining the wishes of the community. Together we collected great feedback. That information has given me wonderful direction for developing and planning. With this information I am trying to arrange opportunities for various groups to gather, learn, and have fun.

It has been my intention to organize various groups within the community: Youth, ladies, men, and Elders. So far, I have had a chance to organize opportunities for all community members to come out and join in.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel some of the gatherings whenever COVID-19 popped into the communities. Safety has always been a foremost priority. Sadly, the great number of losses in the territory has also affected programming in community.

We have reached a point where we are confident and feel safe gathering as a community so we can meet more often. In addition, having some of the renovations in our building completed, I am excited to schedule classes, meetings, and community events.

Highlights of the year:

• Community Meetings

• Winter Wellness Photo Contest

• Ice Fishing Derby

• Completed Grant Writing Course

• Weekly Youth Group Meetings

• Ladies Paint Night and Craft Sessions

• Tahltan Dancing Program

• Youth and Elders Christmas Tea

• Youth Cooking Classes

• Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) Courses

• Traditional Medicine Picking

• Renovation of BC Services Building

• National Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

• Attended Ladies Wellness Retreat in Telegraph

• Movie Nights

• Fruit and Vegetable Canning Workshops

• Purchase of Dease Lake School Gym Equipment

• Youth Halloween Dance

• Blue Feather Music Festival Youth Trip to Whitehorse

Opposite: Carmen Dennis showing her artwork.

INTERESTS OF COMMUNITY

There have been many wonderful ideas expressed when it comes to the interests of the community. I look forward to working on bringing these ideas to fruition in Dease Lake. Community interests include a sweat lodge, beading and sewing, active group activities, yoga, Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) course, social calls to Elders, Tāłtān language lessons, history, storytelling and songs, traditional harvesting and preserving, camping, healing camps, naming ceremonies, language nests, karaoke nights, arts and crafts, hunting and trapping skills, trips out onto the land, and garbage pick up.

INTERESTS OF YOUTH

The Youth have said they would like the following skills building, cultural learnings, sports, and other activities:

Skills: Computer camp, podcast and radio programming, life skills workshops (budgeting, taxes, credit), music and dance lessons, guitar and drum lessons, cooking and baking classes, music jam sessions, First Aid, avalanche safety, mechanic lessons, and welding.

Cultural: Elder/Youth teas, cultural games, stick gambling, movie/ video making using the Tāłtān language, storytelling, traditional values, language camps, Tahltan dancing, trapping/ hunting/ skinning, hikes to Mount Edziza and in territory, and sewing and beading.

Sports: Hockey, snowshoeing, skiing, yoga, snowboarding, volleyball, self-defence, floor hockey, snowmobiling, hiking, skating, basketball, paintball, weightlifting, fishing and ice fishing, soccer, dirt biking, football, and boxing.

Other: Dease Daze, better off-road trails, help with hockey gear, status gas, a Youth center to hang out in, drivers if they need rides, and adults to come together and make things happen.

INTERESTS OF LADIES

Interests indicated by the ladies in Dease Lake include: Sweat lodge, beading and sewing, active group activities, yoga, social calls to Elders, Tāłtān language, history, storytelling and songs, traditional harvesting, preserving, writing Tāłtān songs, camping, healing camps, traditional medicines, naming and welcoming ceremonies, language nests, karaoke nights, and arts and crafts.

2023

2023 has been busy so far, I continue to refer to the interests of the community to guide my programming and I am always willing to hear what people would like to do or want for activities.

I have applied for and have received three grants this year totaling $22,648. These are from the First People’s Cultural Council (FPCC) (Arts and Traditional Crafts), BC Parks and Recreation (Family Day), and Indigenous Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation Council (ISPARC) (Baseball Equipment). These funds assist and augment my programs.

Highlights this year include:

• Sewing and Crafting nights

• Ballet Classes

• Revitalization of Dease Daze

• Tahltan Dancers trip to Hobiyee

• Family Day Sliding Party

• Movie Nights

PARTNERSHIPS

• Easter Colouring Contest

• Elder Luncheons

• Afternoon Sewing on Fridays

• Purchase of Art Supplies for Dease Lake School

• New Baseball Equipment for Community

I would not have been able to do some of the activities on my own, or without the assistance of community partnerships. I am very thankful to the following for their generosity, help and assistance, from joining forces to hold events, allowing me to use vehicles for workshops, medicine picking and travel, and the use of gym and kitchen for cooking classes:

Kim Rowe and People’s Haven, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) School District 87, and Dease Lake School.

If anyone has ideas that they would like to see happen in Dease Lake, please feel free to contact me at the TCG office at 250-771-5482 or the Tahltan Building (Dease Lake Government Building) at 250-771-3087.

The creation of posters and use of the TCG Dease Lake Community Facebook page has been the major means of communicating activities and events, so be sure to follow and check regularly for all upcoming activities.

Wildlife

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Wildlife Department has achieved many successes on behalf of the Tahltan Nation. Below is an overview of our notable work.

Lance Nagwan Wildlife Director

Tahltan Central Government (TCG) — BC Wildlife Accord

Signed in October 2022, this important agreement supports the "development of a world class wildlife stewardship regime". This work includes:

1 Joint wildlife governance: Develop and pilot the decision-making structure.

The development of a vision and of options for joint governance:

» Develop Terms of Reference with defined terms and scopes for decision-making protocols

» Finalize vision and options for joint governance models

• Establish the Terms of Reference for pilot shared decision-making processes for near-term caribou and moose management decisions:

» Develop Terms of Reference with defined terms and scopes for decision making protocols

» Establish a framework for implementing pilot

» Implement pilot

2 Joint wildlife governance: Develop and implement community engagement, cultural competency, and capacity building plan.

• Establish a communications plan for the Accord and regional initiatives

• Quarterly communications with Accord Senior Oversight Table

• Work collaboratively to re-establish a Northern Wildlife Roundtable supported by a facilitator with TCG and 3Nations Society

• Quarterly community outreach

• Core capacity building

• Cultural competency training – training program to be determined

• Once determined by 3Nations-BC Collaborative Stewardship Forum (3NBC-CSF), active participation in the CSF regional stakeholder forum

3 Co-management: Develop and implement interim caribou, moose, and predator monitoring plans.

• Identification of Population Management Units

• Co-development of population trend and abundance objectives and associated metrics using Tahltan knowledge and science (e.g., adult female survival and juvenile recruitment targets, bull to cow ratios, predator densities)

• Establish framework, defined terms, and draft initial objectives for initiative

• Survey protocols and schedule to assess metrics and progress towards objectives

• Proposed actions to achieve objectives, including harvest management, habitat protection and enhancement, predator management, etc.

• Adaptive management and Tahltan and scientific evidence integration to ensure continuous improvement – to be determined

• Knowledge gaps and research needs –to be determined

• Initial implementation of Tahltan-specific monitoring activities

» Caribou monitoring program:

Three-year summary report – completed

– Monitoring of existing collars - ongoing

– Deployment of caribou collars for Level Kawdy and Spatsizi – by TCG with BC winter 2023/24

» Moose monitoring program:

– Klappan Moose Stewardship Plan – ongoing

Klappan Moose Stratified Random Block Survey – mid-winter 2023/24

– Jade Boulder Road (JBR) Post Rut Survey – November 2024

» Predator monitoring program:

Monitoring of existing collars – ongoing

– Deployment of new collars –scheduled for winter 2023/24

Design of Grizzly bear monitoring project - scheduled for winter 2023/24

– Winter Trapping Program

– Predator Management Plan

4 Co-management: Develop and implement data and information management and sharing framework.

• Ongoing work and scheduling this fiscal year

Identify additional projects under the Accord, CSF, or Together for Wildlife (T4W) to be included in agreement (commence once agreement is established)

5 Co-management: Develop and implement enhanced compliance and enforcement plan.

Depending on the outcomes of Year One, could be the basis for Year Two and Three to further implement

• Increased training and capacity

• Joint patrols and information sharing

• Secondment or embedment of a Conservation Officer with Guardians for extended periods

• Development of a Tahltan Conservation Officer position based in the territory

3Nations Update

The 3N-BC CSF is one of five forums in the province with a commitment of $ 355,000 per year to the Tahltan Nation for the next three years. It is open for the full range of land and resource activities including co-management with a focus on wildlife. It is being led by the 3Nations Society and Skeena Region. Generally, the projects and programs being discussed are to be of a shared approach with the group agreeing to broad approaches and objectives with each Nation delivering it based on their programs and specific interests. The general focus is on capacity and operations, guardian programs, hunting regulation effectiveness (monitoring, harvest assessment, inventories), and co-management research. The workplan and priorities are revisited each year.

Guardian Program

Clements Brace

• Trapped twelve wolves over the course of the winter 2022-2023, removing nine from Tseneglode Mountain and three from Caribou Pass up the Jade Boulder Road.

Richard Louie

• Trapped one wolf this winter up the Klappan Railway Grade.

• Participated in the Klappan Moose Survey 2022-2023.

• Removed several Grizzly bears from the Klappan Railway Grade in the fall of 2022 including the bear that caused a public safety concern that entered and vandalized Dee Maxwell’s house.

Assisted BC Regional Ecologist Biogeoclimatic Ecosystem Classification (BEC) sampling fieldwork in July 2022.

GUARDIAN FUNDING

The Guardian program has now received stable funding for the next three years under a renewed mandate from the BC Provincial Government.

3Nation Technical Working Group (TWG)

Committed to conducting joint enforcement Conservation Officer/Guardian Joint Patrols in the fall of 2023. Including establishing co-operative game checks and compulsory reporting.

“I think I definitely saved a couple of caribou this winter!”

Clements Brace

Below: Guardian Clements Brace skinning wolf to utilize the hide for cultural use.

Tahltan Predator Management Plan

Under the Predator Management Framework, which includes the Tahltan Predator Management Plan and the Tahltan Predator Management Policy, the TCG is supporting the Tahltan people in fulfilling their inherent stewardship responsibilities for wildlife in Tahltan Territory, in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, by taking predator management into their own hands.

The TCG’s Wildlife Department has hired four full-time predator management staff to support the program, which includes animal monitoring and population control, data collection, wildlife research, and working with Elders and Knowledge Holders. This is a historical investment which will prioritize predator management in Tahltan Territory by its own members. The TCG Wildlife Department will also increase its efforts to work closely with other wildlife stakeholders who understand and support predator management initiatives.

The Predator Management Framework responds to dwindling ungulate species populations and increased conflict between community members and predatory species. Culturally important to the Tahltan people and primary food sources, ungulate species restoration programs and initiatives, particularly those focusing on caribou, are being developed and implemented across the country between Indigenous, provincial, and federal governments.

Top, and right: Clements Brace collaring a large wolf, and with a grizzly.

WOLF COLLARING PROJECT

• Collared a total of 26 wolves over the last three years, we have lost a few to mortalities and collar failures, with 18 remaining active.

• Wolf density (three-year Average: 16-24 wolves per 1000 km2 for Tahltan Territory.)

TAHLTAN MEMBER INCENTIVISED HARVEST

Community harvest has removed 37 black bears, 52 wolves, and 32 Grizzly bears total over three years since program inception.

PREDATOR MANAGEMENT TECHNICIANS

New hires in August 2022:

• Derek Louie trapped three wolves this past winter. Wolves were removed from Sawmill Point, Middle Range, and 30 Miles.

• Eugene Etzertza trapped one wolf and shot four wolves all on Dease Lake.

• Dwayne Tashoots trapped three wolves all up Klappan Railway Grade.

• Dennis Day trapped three wolves all up Muddy Lake Road.

Information Sharing Agreement

TCG has provided a draft information sharing protocol agreement which covers off the Accord, Moose Stewardship Plan (MSP) documents, Shared Decision-Making Agreement (SDMA), Klappan Board, and Shared Prosperity Agreement (SPA). It has been tabled and is based on Tahltan knowledge protocols and a recent template though the CSF. It is currently being reviewed by BC-Skeena staff.

Left: Wolf Locations, November 2020 to January 2023.

Other Moose Projects

The Community Moose Signage project did not happen last year but is still on our agenda to accomplish over the summer. The goal is to educate and curb the harvest of cow moose over the next three years in order to recover populations which is achievable and within our control as resident hunters do not have the opportunity to harvest female moose in the winter. To assist Tahltan people in having enough food to eat in the winter, TCG Wildlife Department will be contacting and seeking industrial project support for the food hamper program to offset the cow harvest during the critical months of February and March each year.

MOOSE STEWARDSHIP PLAN (MSP)

Objective setting workshop completed in November 2022 and came up with 23 unique objectives that will be worked towards over the next 18 months, including but not limited to: BC hunting regulation change proposals and conservation of moose; goals to increase moose numbers on the landscape, including bull moose numbers within community harvesting areas; working to ensure moose population demographic metrics meet co-designed numbers set by both governments; cumulative assessment of moose habitat; compulsory reporting of all hunters; submission of hunt data before new licences are issued; and Limited Entry Harvest (LEH) are going to be paramount to success. Things that Tahltan members should keep in mind: to achieve these ambitious goals will require Tahltan harvesters to report their harvest total as to assist both parties (TCG and BC) annual harvest data to develop the next season of harvest allocation.

MOOSE POPULATION INVENTORY SURVEYS

Klappan Population Estimates (PMU Population Management Unit 6-25)

• 2019: 351 moose with 94 bulls, 157 cows, 46 calves classified and 4 unclassified during the survey. There were 44 groups of a cow with a calf, and one group of cow with twin calves.

• 46 + 10 (90% CI) bulls/100 cows. A calf ratio of 25 + 7 (90% CI) calves/100 cows.

• 2021: 219 moose with 69 bulls, 117 cows, 33 calves classified.

• 58 + 15 (90% CI) bulls/100 cows. A calf ratio of 28 + 9 (90% CI) calves/100.

• 2023: 290 moose with 56 bulls, 188 cows. 42 calves for a population estimate of 52 moose (90% CI) 30 +6 (90% CI) bulls/100 cows. A calf ratio of 23 +5 (90% CI) calves/100 cows.

Survey objectives include:

• To provide quantitative data on the moose population (estimates of total moose, bulls, cows, and calves), bull to cow and calf to cow ratios, and population trend with the purpose of managing and monitoring licenced harvesting in the Klappan Population Management Unit (PMU);

• To document moose numbers, composition, and distribution in the Klappan Moose PMU to support the TCG Wildlife Department management decisions and further establish baseline data for the program;

• To provide multi-year moose population monitoring to support development of the Klappan Moose Stewardship Plan as identified by the Klappan Board and supported through 3NBC-CSF; and

• To provide multi-year moose population monitoring to support 3NBC-CSF Guardian Program objectives on the monitoring the effectiveness of hunting regulation changes, including land use and hunter activity outside of Moose Hunting Areas.

DEASE LAKE/TANZILLA POPULATION ESTIMATES

TCG Wildlife Department established our own management block to monitor in and around the Dease Lake and Tanzilla River to get a general understanding of the population surrounding the community harvesting area.

• 2023: 268 Moose + 64 moose (90% CI) population estimate

• 50 bulls, 176 cows. 41 calves

• 29 +10 (90% CI) bulls/100 cows. A calf ratio of 23 + 8 (90% CI) calves/100 cows

• Density of 0.21 moose/km2

Caribou Collaring Project

Caribou Calf Recruitment/Survival will be ongoing into the near future by monitoring the success of our predator removals along with keeping a close eye on caribou

• Guardians have collared a total of 65 caribou total over three years of the collaring program. (18 Tseneglode, 25 Level/Kawdy, 18 Spatsizi, 4 Edziza Mountain).

CARIBOU POPULATION INVENTORY SURVEY

Monitoring will continue to occur for the foreseeable future, as our Wildlife Department continues to grow in capacity and capabilities. Continuation of surveys will add to the baseline population estimates from the past three years. Results will be used to develop population trend growth or decline. Maps (Herd Movements, Telemetry Locations, Home Ranges overlayed in Tahltan Territory) will be available to use in land use planning as TCG moves ahead with established critical habitat mapping.

Tseneglode Caribou: Estimate Population 600

Spatsizi Caribou: Estimate Population 850

Level Mountain Caribou: Estimate Population 875

Edziza Caribou: Estimate Population 30

Above: Caribou locations

calf mortalities.

Sheep Population Survey

Spatsizi 2023: Scheduled to jointly conduct a TCG/BC population estimate survey from July 9 to 25 for the entirety of the Spatsizi range. Richard Louie will be the Guardian participating, staying out at Highland Post for the duration of the survey.

Over the month of February 2024, the plan is to collar forty sheep split between rams and ewes in the same location, again, with Guardian participation in the capturing and collaring. Partnerships and funding have come from the Wild Sheep Foundation and TCG’s Multimedia Director, Adam Amir, will record the project to create a video.

Goat Population Survey

In 2020, a world record goat was harvested in Tahltan Territory, thus, we are expecting an influx in hunting along the Stikine canyon. This is the second world record to come out of the territory, as previously a record goat was taken from Mount Edziza. One important aspect to note is that producing world records is an indication of the health of the animal growing huge horns in a healthy ecosystem. As a precaution, a population survey has been planned for mid-July with Guardian Clements Brace participation with a BC Regional Biologist to provide an estimate of population in the Stikine and Edziza Game Management Areas.

Top: Caribou collaring map

Bottom: Chris Creyke, Tahltan, successfully harvesting first ram at age 75 after 60 years of being a guide.

TCG / Guide Outfitters Agreement

The Cooperation and Benefit Agreement has been developed and is currently in draft form being reviewed by lawyers. Set in the Agreement are royalties and fees associated that are to be paid out by guide outfitting companies that currently operate in and have an impact on Tahltan Territory. As a return, guide outfitters get TCG Predator Management Technicians boots on the ground protecting wildlife in their operating area, trapping, or removing predators such as wolves and Grizzly bears, beneficial to both Tahltan members and outfitters. The more wildlife we can keep on the landscape the better it will be for everyone involved.

By partnering with TCG Tourism Director Alex Buri, we first introduced the idea to outfitters in Nashville to judge and gauge the feedback. Most were receptive to the idea but wondered what they would be getting in return as they are an operating business. We also introduced Tahltan Youth to the guide outfitting industry and began looking to get them into a guiding school for guide outfitting. Once the successful Youth completed the wrangling course, they would be looking for employment that hunting season. The first round of Youth attending is set for this summer season.

Top: Guide Outfitting Territories in Tahltan Territory.

Bottom: Traplines in Tahltan Nation.

* Certificate Holder: The person or company that has exclusive control over guiding privileges in the area described on the certificate

* License Holder: The person or entity that is licensed to guide resident and non-resident hunters in an exclusive guide area

* Outfitter Name: The name of the business that is marketing guided hunts in the territory

* In Territory: Rough approximation of how much of the territory is in Tahltan Territory

Other Projects

Guardians are again partnered with the Province to conduct placer mining effluent monitoring (water quality) in the summer of 2023. This will provide baseline data to support the TCG Lands Department long term to make best management decisions for habitat surrounding and downstream of site locations.

Guardians have been requested from Dease Lake Airport to remove or relocate problem and nuisance animals that may create public safety concerns for the aircrafts.

Guardians continue to support school participation projects and offer to enter the schools, when we can, to give classroom demonstrations. This initiative will be ongoing as we feel that it is important to showcase and gain interest from the students.

Guardians are partnering with Frank Doyle to set up and deploy game trail cameras to conduct with the school district habitat monitoring and student mentorship. Recently, further collaborating and partnering with Environment and Climate Change Canada to subsequently deploy acoustic recording monitors to provide additional bird species monitoring that will be set up at the same locations.

This fall, Guardians will be setting up an on the land climate station in the Tseneglode caribou herd range this fall to provide localized weather patterns monitoring of precipitation and temperatures. The project will be filmed by National Land Needs Guardians campaign videographer.

Above: Guardian Clements Brace preparing to net gun a caribou.

Fisheries

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

Ongoing Chinook Conservation Concerns

Cheri Frocklage Fisheries Director

In 2022 the Stikine River watershed saw a terminal (or final) run size of 10,098 large Chinook, of which 9,090 escaped to spawn. The 2023 pre-season forecast is for 11,700 large Chinook, still well below the 10-year average of 15,400. This decline continues to remain concerning to the Tahltan Nation and is of international concern for both Canada and the United States (US). Both Canada and the US are continuing to take serious management measures and actions to avoid the harvest of Pacific Chinook salmon, which include; no directed commercial or assessment fishery, non-retention of all Chinook (dead or alive), the full angling closure of the Tahltan River from the confluence of the Stikine up, delay in the US subsistence sockeye fishery, delaying the start of the Canada/US sockeye commercial openings, and further delay to the opening of our First Nation fisheries to minimize the incidental catches of Chinook.

Your TCG Fisheries Department strongly encourages and advocates for ALL our members to assist in efforts

Kerry Carlick Fisheries Manager

to preserve and conserve the struggling Tahltan River Chinook salmon populations.

You can do this by NOT setting your net through the migration period of these stocks. Our food fish nets should not be set in the Stikine River until July 12 to align with the arrival of the sockeye salmon and to allow for the majority of the Chinook/King salmon to migrate up-river past our food fishing corridor. We would also like to ask everyone to record and release any healthy Chinook from their nets, the number of Chinook released is important data for us to have as managers of the Food Fishery in Telegraph Creek.

Fisheries Project Overview

THE STIKINE RIVER SALMON STUDIES – BIOLOGICAL CONTRACT

LOWER STIKINE CODED WIRE TAGGING

LOWER STIKINE COMMERCIAL SAMPLING

LOWER STIKINE SOCKEYE TEST FISHERY

LOWER STIKINE ADULT CHINOOK TAGGING

TAHLTAN LAKE SMOLTS

LITTLE TAHLTAN CHINOOK

TAHLTAN LAKE SOCKEYE ADULT ENUMERATION

CATCH MONITORING & REPORTING

STIKINE STOCK SEPARATION

TAHLTAN RIVER CHINOOK ENUMERATION

FEASIBILITY STUDY

STIKINE RIVER AERIAL SURVEYS

TAHLTAN SLIDE

2022 ESCAPEMENTS

ALASKA

TAHLTAN LAKE EGG TAKE (1989-2022)

MEMORIAL MONUMENT AT TAHLTAN LAKE

CREEK

SOCKEYE ESCAPEMENT GOAL RANGE

MAINSTEM SOCKEYE

2023 Sockeye Salmon Run Forecasts

Mainstem stocks are targeted in the mixed fishery conducted in US marine waters (districts 106 & 108) the US in river subsistence fishery, and the Canadian commercial fishery.

TEN-YEAR AVERAGE

57,000

38,000 30,000 29,000

39,000 TAHLTAN LAKE ESCAPEMENT GOAL RANGE TEN-YEAR AVERAGE MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE 2023 TERMINAL RUN FORECAST

2023 TERMINAL RUN FORECAST TAHLTAN ENHANCED SOCKEYE

86,000 103,000 MANAGEMENT

TOTAL COMBINED STIKINE SOCKEYE SALMON RUN FORECAST TEN-YEAR AVERAGE

Given the low forecast for the Stikine Mainstem sockeye stocks, there will be no commercial fisheries opportunities afforded, and management actions will be taken to minimize incidental catches and protect these stocks during their migration period through their migration corridors.

Historically, the in-season sockeye assessment tools have relied upon sampling a portion of the commercial catches on the lower Stikine River to assist fisheries managers in making decisions around commercial openings and closures. Following the commercial closures in 2021, the sampling method used will remain in effect. Stikine mainstem run reconstruction will be generated from the 2023 sockeye in season abundance estimates obtained through a sockeye spaghetti tagging event one at Kakwan Point near the mouth of the river, followed by a secondary capture/ sampling event in a Canadian in-river non-lethal assessment program located in the Lower Stikine River. Further data will be acquired in the Tahltan food fishery harvest and from the spawning grounds.

STIKINE RIVER SALMON STUDIES BIO CONTRACT

Centre: Egg take at Tahltan Lake

Stikine Stock Assessment Projects

LOWER STIKINE JUVENILE CODED WIRE TAGGING PROJECT

The 2022 Lower Stikine Juvenile Chinook and Coho Coded Wire Tagging (CWT) project saw the return of both Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO) and Tahltan Central Government Fisheries Department (TCGFD) staff to the project, alongside the Alaskan Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G) who have done the last two years of the project by themselves due to COVID-19 restrictions. The project began with the crew mobilizing from Dease Lake on April 14 and flying to the Lower Stikine camp via helicopter. The TCGFD crew consisted of Kyle Inkster, Sheldon Dennis, Jared Dennis, Clint Callbreath, John Nole and with Raina Feldman as their cook for the project. The 2022 CWT project concluded on May 30 and saw the joint efforts between Canada and the US capture and tag a total of approximately 33,000 Chinook and 15,000 coho smolts.

KAKWAN ADULT CHINOOK TAGGING PROJECT

The Kakwan Adult Chinook Mark/Recapture project marked the return of TCGFD staff to a project that has been delivered by ADF&G over the past two years due to COVID-19. The TCGFD staff that executed the project were Kyle Inkster and Sheldon Dennis and ADF&G staff from May 5 – July 10. They successfully tagged 176 large Chinook salmon.

Commercial/Test Fishery Sampling was not conducted in the 2021 season as a direct result of the sockeye commercial closure. DFO conducted a non-lethal in-river sockeye salmon assessment program from June 13 – August 28, 2021. They observed 1,069 in their set net efforts and 76 in their drift nets.

Typically, the Commercial/Test Fishery Sampling program data is used in-season to provide direction to fisheries managers to manage the duration of the commercial openings and to ensure that they achieve their management objectives. These management objectives, in order of priority are:

• Conservation – Make sure enough fish make it to the spawning grounds.

• Food, Social, and Ceremonial – First Nation Fishery.

• Commercial and Recreational Sectors

LOWER STIKINE ADULT SOCKEYE ASSESSMENT (NON-LETHAL)

In 2022, the Non-Lethal Sockeye Assessment Fishery was conducted by both DFO and TCGFD staff and ran from June 20 – August 18, 2022. This project is designed to give an idea of in-season abundance estimates and stock identification (identify Tahltan vs. Mainstem stocks). The project consisted of two capture methods: drift netting and set netting. The results are as follows: Set net: 910, Drift net: 700. TCGFD staff involved in this new stock assessment project included John Nole, Sheldon Dennis, Kyle Inkster, and Clint Callbreath.

TAHLTAN LAKE SOCKEYE SMOLT OUTMIGRATION

The 2022 Sockeye Smolt Outmigration saw results that exceeded the 2022 pre-season forecast of 774,000, with a final count of 1,731,129 smolts leaving Tahltan Lake. The smolt weir was operated solely by TCGFD staff this year through coordination with DFO. The smolt crew was led by Field Supervisor, Michael Nole, who was joined by Fabian Vance, Drew Inkster, and Peter Carlick-Beck. The crew was on-site from May 4 –June 28, and their biggest day saw them count 800,583 smolts. Early analysis of wild to enhanced ratio shows that the wild smolt survivals have dramatically improved over the last year.

In the past few years, the enhanced to wild ratio has exceeded the 50/50 guideline, where the enhanced were outnumbering the wild in some recent years up to 75 to 80 per cent in favour of the enhanced. This year the preliminary results have shown the enhanced making up twelve per cent of the total migration. This is great news for the wild smolts who came in with a strong showing at 88 per cent of the sockeye out migration. Approximately 207,735 enhanced and 1,523,394 wild smolts left Tahltan Lake for the Pacific Ocean to rear, feed, migrate and continue their life cycle.

TAHLTAN LAKE ADULT SOCKEYE WEIR

The 2022 Tahltan Lake Adult Enumeration project, which is designed to count all the returning adult sockeye salmon to Tahltan Lake, ran from July 7 –September 15. Michael Nole and Fabian Vance were tasked with installing and operating the weir. The weir

was installed on July 10 and they recorded their first sockeye on July 22. This year saw another year of above average escapement into Tahltan Lake with a total of 53,172 adults returning to the spawning grounds.

LOWER STIKINE RIVER COHO ASSESSMENT

The Coho Assessment on the Lower Stikine and Iskut rivers is in the third year of operations. It aims to build an abundance-based management regime for the Stikine River coho stocks, to parallel the management regimes for sockeye and Chinook. Currently, the only measure of population and abundance is the Commercial Coho Fishery on the Stikine, which has a goal of 5,000 coho, and additionally, an annual aerial survey of spawner index sites. These coho operations involve the tagging and recapture of coho salmon to give us a much more accurate idea of population abundance, distribution, and run timing. The 2022 operations were delivered by both DFO and TCGFD staff who were on site from August 14 – October 30. Crews netted 913 coho adults and tagged 911 of them. They were able to re-capture 78 adults. There was a DNA collection portion of the project that they were unable to complete due to bad weather. TCGFD staff included Jared Dennis, Kyle Inkster, Drew Inkster, Raina Feldman, Margaret Asp, Peter Carlick-Beck, and John Nole.

COMMERCIAL COHO

The Commercial Coho Fishery was conducted between August 28 –September 16. The fishery caught 5,081 adult coho salmon. The sampling of this project was done by the Coho Assessment Team involving DFO and TCGFD staff.

ABORIGINAL FISHERIES STRATEGY AGREEMENT (AFS) AND PACIFIC SALMON TREATY (PST) PROJECTS

The TCGFD received an initial contribution of $570,780 from DFO in 2022. An additional $66,000 was secured through AFS Capacity Support Funding to provide for long overdue warehouse upgrades. The DFO Pacific Salmon Strategy Initiative provided $121,000 to invest in a new river scanner (counter) to upgrade the technology used at the Little Tahltan Chinook Weir. Total DFO funding in 2022 was $757,780. The AFS contribution agreement allows for office infrastructure, administrations costs, vehicle purchases, insurance, and maintenance, equipment purchases and maintenance, management wages, meeting travel, school programs, and an increasing list of stock assessment and monitoring projects which are

summarized here. Some of our long-term projects that were previously funded under the bio contract have been moved over under AFS administration.

LITTLE TAHLTAN CHINOOK VIDEO COUNTER

The 2022 Little Tahltan Chinook enumeration project ran from June 22 – August 15. Jared Dennis and Peter Carlick-Beck arrived on site on June 22 but were unable to install the video counter weir until July 7 due to highwater conditions in the Little Tahltan River. Once the water stabilized, they were able to begin counting, with their first fish arriving on July 10. Jared and Peter ended up counting 565 large Chinook and 650 non-large Chinook (jacks).

STIKINE STOCK SEPARATION

The 2022 Stikine Stock Separation project that collects biological data and samples from the catches caught in the Food, Social, and Ceremonial Fishery (FSC) centered around Telegraph Creek, ran from June 27 –August 5 and was conducted by TCGFD staff members Raina Feldman and Shenoa Asp. The two sampled catches from various fishers from Glenora up to Tahltan. They collected 398 sockeye and 50 Chinook samples this year.

CATCH MONITOR

The monitoring of the 2022 FSC Fishery was performed by long time catch monitor, Noreen McLean. This year saw an above average return of Tahltan Lake sockeye to the Stikine. This worked out great for fishers, who we were anticipating would return in higher numbers than what was observed in the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions and road closures. Noreen’s counts indicated that our Tahltan members harvested 5,723 sockeye, 269 large Chinook, 117 small Chinook and released 89 Chinook. The TCGFD appreciates the ongoing show of support and continued catch reporting from our members. Mēduh to our Tahltan First Nation members/fishers for providing sampling opportunities. It is only with the cooperation of our Tahltan members and harvesters that the opportunities that are necessary to conduct a successful sampling project are provided.

TAHLTAN RIVER SONAR FEASIBILITY

The Tahltan River Sonar project, which is still in early stages of site selection and testing, saw DFO and TCGFD staff test out the sonar unit at a new site located just below the telemetry tower that is stationed up at Lava Beds, just above the site of the 2014 landslide on the

Tahltan River. The site visit was done by TCGFD Fisheries Manager, Kerry Carlick, and the DFO. The new site is more promising than sites from last year’s testing, although further analysis is required in terms of logistics and sonar stand design. A review of water level data from the Tahltan River bridge hydrometric station will give us a better idea of water levels which will help inform our final location for the unit. The end goal of the project is to be able to count every fish that swims up the Tahltan River, without touching them at all. The less hands on fish, the better for the fish. The Tahltan River Sonar Feasibility study is a new project funded by the Pacific Salmon Commission Treaty Implementation Fund and administered through the TCG AFS Agreement.

FISHERIES GUARDIAN

In 2022, Margaret Asp returned to her role as the TCG Fisheries Guardian in Telegraph Creek. Margaret’s job is focused on the protection of our salmon resources and involves monitoring, recording and reporting of illegal fishing practices. This includes targeting Chinook salmon, harvesting and selling food fish, over harvesting, and other Fisheries concerns. 2022 was anticipated to be a busy year with a return to more historical fishing pressure, which has been down the past two years due to COVID-19 restrictions and the road closure of Highway 51. The Fisheries Guardian is primarily stationed at Tahltan where she hands out permits for fishing and transport. Margaret also monitors the Tahltan River which was a highly active sport fishing site in previous years, but the river has been closed to salmon angling since the landslide in 2014. This is to allow the fewer returning Chinook unimpeded access to their spawning grounds above. They use the area by the bridge as a staging area to make it past the old slide site and are very susceptible to capture here.

This year was especially fulfilling for our Fisheries Guardian as we were finally able to collaborate with the DFO Fisheries Officers who came down for a few days to patrol with Margaret. This has been a goal for this project for years now, but it was not able to happen until this year. Margaret was joined by two Fisheries Officers from July 22–24, 2022. They patrolled the food fishing corridor from Tahltan to Glenora for those days and checked out as many fish camps as they could. This relationship will be very important going forward, just as it is with BC Conservation Officers and Wildlife Guardians. We are stronger when we work together in the best interest of the resource.

The future of this program looks very good with close collaboration with DFO Enforcement. It is the aim of our department to get our Fisheries Guardian training

comparable to the DFO Fisheries Officers. This will help increase our enforcement abilities within our department and help us protect the salmon to a higher degree. This is a very important role and a tough one, and we would like to recognize Margaret for her continued dedication to the salmon of the Stikine. For the most part, our membership is great at following the recommendations and direction given by the Fisheries Department, but for those who do not, we will continue to monitor and work to educate them on their responsibilities that come with their rights to harvest salmon as Tahltans.

Funding for this project is provided by the TCG through the Tahltan Strategic Initiative.

TAHLTAN LAKE SOCKEYE ENHANCEMENT EGG TAKE (1989-2022)

The administration of this long-term contract has been transferred over under the AFS arrangements. In prior years, we were required to complete a proposal and bidding package to be awarded this contract. This was very concerning for us for almost a decade, as a First Nation having to compete with all other potential organizations bidding on this contract. We appreciate the past discussions and acknowledgment from DFO that this was not a desirable approach, and our requests to streamline the process and eliminate the concerning factor is a big accomplishment.

Results From Eggs Collected in September 2021 Egg Take

1.52 million eggs delivered in September 202174% egg to fry survival, these results are good and above average (average project survival, 71%)

• No fry lost to infectious hematopoietic necrosis (IHN) virus

• 1,079,400 sockeye fry released to Tahltan Lake (average 1,965,000)

• Fixed wing delivery and release completed May 30, 2022

2022 Egg Take Summary - A smaller contingent of the egg take crew (Derek Louie, Drew Inkster, and Clint Callbreath) were deployed to Tahltan Lake on September 1. They were sent in a few days early to construct six new vexar holding pens, two new rinse tables for the fertilization procedures, and general site preparation. The remainder of the crew flew to the site with BC Yukon on September 5. Five egg takes were

2.1 M

1,079,400

SOCKEYE EGGS SOCKEYE FRY RELEASED TO TAHLTAN LAKE (average 1,965,000)

FERTILIZED EGG DELIVERY (Port Snettisham Hatchery by Ward Air Juneau)

completed between September 9–15, and a total of 2.1 million fertilized sockeye eggs were delivered to Snettisham Hatchery. Weather cooperated with all five egg transport flights happening same day. Egg transport flight services were provided by Ward Air from Juneau. Camp was winterized and crew were demobilized and flown out on September 21 with BC Yukon Air. Much appreciation to Billy, Alex, and staff at the base for their support.

Eggs from 784 females were collected and fertilized by 800 males respectively. Fecundity (number of eggs per female) was estimated at 2,674 which resulted in two million eggs delivered. In addition, ovarian, kidney, and broodstock (lengths and otoliths) samples were taken and provided by field staff as per the project protocols.

Crew members were Richard Erhardt, Cheri Frocklage, Drew Inkster, Sheldon Dennis, Clint Callbreath, Derek Louie, Michael Nole, Fabian Vance, and Noreen McLean. This year, Ollie traded in her waders for an apron and participated as our camp cook, providing meals and general camp cleaning for the course of the project. Mēduh, Noreen for all the good food and laughter in the kitchen.

Successes this year included implementation of operational and equipment recommendations from the prior year, having all egg delivery flights happen on the same day via fixed wing charters, and reaching the revised egg take target.

Gratitude to our returning crew members for their ongoing commitment and the lending of expertise to some new field staff on this project.

Many thanks to Kevin Steck and the crew at Snettisham Hatchery. We truly appreciate all the people on the other end that make sure the support fights, fuel, propane, supplies, and groceries keep coming in. Mēduh to DFO for use of the camp facilities. Expected fry release of 1.5 million in the spring of 2023.

SALMONIDS IN THE CLASSROOM

2022 marks the restart of the Salmon Classroom Incubation program. The TCGFD will be working diligently to increase our presence in the three local schools. Sockeye salmon eggs from Tahltan Lake were delivered to the Dease Lake School on September 21. Upon reaching the eyed stage, eggs were distributed to Iskut and Tahltan Schools. Students will rear the sockeye eggs to the fry stage, observing egg and fish development along the way and learning about the biology of the Pacific sockeye salmon and the cultural

values and significance of the Stikine salmon resources to the Tahltan Nation. TCGFD staff visited the schools over the course of the winter to provide technical support to the teachers. The surviving fry will be released in the spring of 2023 with a gathering of students, teachers, and community members. Naia Newton, our Aquatic Protection Officer, has been instrumental in getting this project operating and back in the schools.

The Fisheries Director is collaborating with the Language Department and initial discussions around developing Tahltan visual aids for our work with the students are underway. We are in exciting times and the possibilities are endless.

HEALTH & SAFETY – SHORT TERM TRAINING

The TCG Fisheries Manager, Kerry Carlick, was again successful in pulling together the annual Fisheries Department staff training schedule to ensure the health and safety of our field staff while they conduct their various stock assessment duties. The following is a summary of courses and certifications provided over the last three years.

2021

• Electrofishing Course - Fisheries Field Skills Certificate

• Working Safe Near Water Certification (formerly Swiftwater Rescue)

• Level 1 First Aid and Transportation Endorsement

• All-Terrain Vehicle Certification

• Fisheries Field Skills Certificate

2022

• BeMoreU Wellness Course

• Ichthyology Course

• Bear Awareness and Shotgun Training

• Possession and Acquisition Licence (PAL) Certification

• Occupational First Aid (OFA) Level 3

2023

• Bear Awareness and Shotgun Training

• Wilderness First Aid Certification

• Food Safe Certification

Kerry has developed a three-year training plan for 2024-2026 to ensure that our field employees receive the most up-to-date and appropriate training, and that their certifications do not expire.

AERIAL SURVEYS

The 2022 Chinook Aerial survey was conducted by Fisheries Manager, Kerry Carlick, and Aquatic Protections Officer, Naia Newton, on July 29, resulting in a count of 379 Chinook spawners observed across the Beatty Creek, Little Tahltan River, Christina Creek, and Verrett River index sites. The survey day was a beautiful sunny day which provided great viewing conditions, except it did have somewhat higher water levels in some locations. The Tahltan River Chinook index site was too dirty to locate the fish and was not surveyed.

The 2022 sockeye aerial survey was conducted September 12 with Cheri and Kerry as observers. Tundra Helicopters was chartered for the flight, and they were transported to the index sites at Chutine, Scud, Porcupine, Verret, Verret Slough, and Bronson Slough. The weather was great for flying and provided us with excellent viewing conditions. The results were encouraging especially at sites like Chutine River, where we historically have had a hard time counting due to water conditions (turbidity and water level). This year, we had great counts from there. A total of 771 sockeye spawners were observed and reported over the course of the survey.

The Stikine coho aerial survey was conducted November 8, 2022. Kerry along with fisheries technician, Raina Feldman, counted an estimated 1,308 coho spawners within the index sites which included Scud River, Porcupine River, Katete River (main and west arm), Verrett River, Craig River, and Verrett slough. Viewing conditions were good overall, however, the formation of ice at some of the sites made for less favorable counting conditions. Survey results indicate that we likely missed the optimum window for the count with the later flight date experienced due to the weather delays.

MEETINGS

The Fisheries managers continue to attend the various fisheries management meetings in-season and during the winter months, including but not limited to:

• Stikine River Salmon Management Committee

• Transboundary Technical Committee and Enhancement Sub-Committee

• Pacific Salmon Commission – Transboundary Rivers Panel (Kerry-TBR Panel Representative, Cheri-TBR Panel alternate)

• Pacific Salmon Commission – First Nation Caucus

• G2G Meetings with DFO and TFN post and pre-season

• TCG – Tahltan Strategic Initiative Steering Committee and Working Group

• TCG – Tahltan Land Stewardship Plan

• TCG – Indigenous Protected Conservation Areas

• TCG – Land Governance Workshops

• TCG/DFO – Tahltan Lake Dam Working Group

• TCG – BC/Tahltan Fish and Wildlife Working Group

• TCG – Major Project Reviews (Fisheries component)

• TCG – Directors Meetings

• TCG – Fisheries Department bi-weekly meetings

• TCG – Community Engagements

• TCG – Bi-monthly Lands & Fisheries Department meetings (newly established)

• TCG – Strategic Planning Meetings with Leadership and Board of Directors

Above: Sockeye Aerial Survey, heading up the Chutine.

*MSY is the Maximum Sustainable Yield and is the maximum level at which a natural resource (fish) can be routinely exploited without long-term depletion.

2022 Stikine Salmon Harvests

2022 Escapements

The following table shows the bilaterally agreed upon escapement goals for Stikine Chinook, sockeye and coho salmon, as set out in the US/Canada Pacific Salmon Treaty.

2022 Chinook pre-season forecast of 7,400 large Chinook. Actual Escapement 9,090. This return is below the escapement goal range of 14,000 to 28,000, below the management objective of 17,400 and below the 10-year average of 17,600.

2022 Sockeye pre-season forecast was 63,000. (42,000 Tahltan and 21,000 Mainstem) Actual Escapement 98,427 (53,172 Tahltan Lake and 45,255 Mainstem). Tahltan Lake escapement was well above the management objective of 24,000 and the Mainstem run was above the escapement objective of 30,000. Although escapements were exceeded, the total combined escapement of 98,427 is below the recent 10-year average of 108,000.

In 2020, the Transboundary Technical Committee (TTC) established a bilateral US – Canada Stikine Sockeye Working Group (working group) to compile data and perform analyses in support of new Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY) based escapement goal ranges. Members include DFO staff, ADF&G staff, TCG staff, as well as an external consultant. Pursuant to Chapter 1 (1)(a) of the Pacific Salmon Treaty, and consistent with the recommendations of the Transboundary Panel Strategic Plan, the Transboundary Panel directed the TTC to complete a review of current spawning objectives for Tahltan Lake and Stikine River Mainstem sockeye salmon stocks.

The Stikine Sockeye Escapement Biologically Agreed Goal Review has been completed and findings were presented to the Pacific Salmon CommissionTransboundary Rivers Panel in February 2023.

TTC Recommendations:

Tahltan Natural Stock: Management objective of 19,000 sockeye salmon with an escapement goal range of 11,000 – 25,000 fish. This does not include any fish necessary for broodstock (egg take) needs.

19,000

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE

11,000– 25,000

ESCAPEMENT GOAL RANGE

Mainstem Stock: Management objective of 21,000 sockeye salmon with an escapement goal range of 13,000 – 33,000 fish.

21,000

MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVE

13,000– 33,000

ESCAPEMENT GOAL RANGE

Although there is a goal set out in the table of the Treaty, there are currently no means of accurately estimating Stikine coho escapement or run size. The work to develop an accurate estimate of Stikine coho is ongoing.

Above: Pulling net near the Three Sisters.

TAHLTAN LAKE DAM REPLACEMENT

The Tahltan Lake Dam Working Group (TLDWG) was established in 2021. The TCGFD provided a memorandum to the working group to provide the opportunity to discuss, in concept, what the new dam and weir arrangements needs are from an operational perspective and have provided a conceptual diagram of the new structure. There has been an exchange of existing reports between organizations for internal review and follow up discussions.

TCGFD submitted our Tahltan Lake Water Balance Report to the TLDWG for further discussion and upcoming engagement with DFO. Staff turn over in the summer of 2022 at Real Properties resulted in a delay of meetings for several months. The TLDWG re-convened in November and there has been substantial progress made under the new direction. We have had subsequent meetings, established budgets for TCGFD and Archeological Department participation in the process, completed a site visit with engineers, and are looking to complete short term repairs to the structure in July while the long-term replacement design is still in the discussion, design, and selection process.

Archeological studies will need to be completed prior to and during any ground disturbance at the weir site. We hope to have this failing structure rectified in a timely fashion and we are looking forward to breaking ground on this very important and long overdue dam remediation project.

TAHLTAN RIVER STEELHEAD PROJECT SUMMARY

In 2021 the TCG embarked on a study to determine the overwintering and spawning sites of Tahltan River steelhead salmon, augmenting the existing traditional knowledge relating to this fish species.

Given the disappointing results of the 2021 Tahltan steelhead radio tagging study whereby only seven radio tags were applied over a 25-day fishing period, a new approach was adopted in 2022 that saw the field work centre at the mouth of the Tahltan River where an active sport fishery exists. Moreover, the capture method was changed from gillnetting to sport fishing (angling). It was also anticipated that the local anglers, consisting of Tahltan First Nation citizens, would participate in the study by providing some of their steelhead catch to the project for tagging (a cash draw based on the number of fish each participant surrendered for tagging was used as an incentive.) Daniel McPherson was the recipient of the cash draw and received $500 for his participation and assistance with our study.

A total of 41 radio tags were applied to steelhead salmon between September 10 and October 4. Peak fishing success occurred from September 15–18 (fishing conditions deteriorated in late September due to high water). On average, tagged fish took 11 days to migrate from the tagging site near the mouth of the Tahltan River to the Tahltan River tower, a distance of 2.9 km.

Below: Sockeye jumping the weir at Tahltan Lake.

The average size of the tagged steelhead trout was 681 millimeters (27 inches). Of the 41 steelhead tagged, 15 were males representing 37 per cent of the sample.

Two aerial surveys were conducted over the winter season. The first survey flown on November 30, 2022 succeeded in locating 23, or 55 per cent of the tagged fish. The second survey flown on the February 9, 2023 succeeded in locating 32 (78 per cent) of the tagged fish.

A third aerial survey is tentatively planned for mid-May to locate spawning sites in the Tahltan, Tuya and Upper Stikine River. This survey will also provide data to help investigators determine the overwinter mortalities of the study fish.

The two stream side towers were downloaded in late March and again in early April. It is expected that the Stikine River tower, which malfunctioned and failed to detect fish movement during the autumn months, worked efficiently from February to April. The towers will be in operation through until late June to collect downstream passage numbers of spawned out steelhead salmon.

2023 will mark the third and final year of this steelhead

study. We are looking forward to sharing our findings with you once the study has been completed and all the data has been analyzed and put into a report format. When Pete Etherton and Kyle Inkster return to the site to start the 2023 field work, we encourage all our steelhead fishing Tahltan members to participate in the capture portion of this study.

TAHLTAN RIVER HYDROMETRIC WATER STATION

In the fall of 2021, in partnership with Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), the TCGFD installed a hydrometric station on the Tahltan River, the station’s name is “Tahltan River at The Mouth (08CE005)”. The station can be searched on the Government of Canada website using the station name. This equipment is key in our efforts to monitor water levels on this river. The Tahltan River watershed is a key habitat for salmon species harvested by Tahltan fishers. For years the gauge at Tuya was used as a proxy but now we will have accurate real-time data on what the water is doing. With this information we can monitor trends such as when the timing of the spring freshet happens, when the lowest water is, all of which is very useful data when it comes to salmon management.

Above: Steelhead study notification at Tahltan.

Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) Fisheries Stewardship & Baseline Project

Stewardship is the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care. The TSI will help the Tahltan Nation to plan and manage our land, water, air, fish, wildlife, and natural resources. It will ensure we take care of our territory now and for future generations by conserving fish and wildlife, managing economic development, protecting our environment and relationship with the land (including culturally significant areas), and asserting jurisdiction over our territory by furthering our role in and refining shared decision-making processes.

This summary details the 2022 activities of the TCG Fisheries Department under the Indigenous Protected and Conserved Areas (IPCAs) funded projects. The studies discussed here are a component of a multi-year strategic planning study under the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) known as the Fisheries Stewardship Project (FSP). The purpose of this project was to further the overall mission of the Fisheries Department which is to protect fish and fish habitats based on traditional and contemporary Tahltan values.

FSP brings Tahltan knowledge, worldview and science together to ensure that we are safeguarding our fish and their habitat. In this regard, advancement through the TSI was largely facilitated by the collection of key baseline fish and hydrology (water) data; new meeting forums; strategic planning, and capacity development.

This report is a summary of the TCGFD 2022 IPCA project activities. The objective of the report is to detail what was accomplished during 2022 in terms of field and desktop studies. The 2022 work plan included scopes of work in four geographic areas including the following;

Left: Clint Callbreath poses during cleanup after the egg take, Tahltan Lake.

Hackett River / Sheslay:

• Desktop assessments of existing information in the Nahlin headwaters;

• Field overflight assessments in the Nahlin headwaters of hydrology, fish passage and Chinook spawning areas;

• Bathymetric surveying of Chicken Lake, immediately downstream of Camp Island Lake;

• Overflight of the fire impacted areas of the Little Tahltan, Bear, Beatty watersheds and portions of the Tahltan River mainstem between Little Tahltan River and Beatty Creek confluences; and

• Downloading of air and water temperature data for Little Tahltan River and analysis of the data.

Tahltan Lake:

• Data downloading and quality assurance of the Tahltan Lake level station near the outlet of the lake and the GW-1 groundwater monitoring well in the “sinkholes” area of Aquifer A4; Hydrometric gauging of Johnny Tashoots Creek below the weir and Camp Creek above the weir;

• Reconnaissance of the Aquifer A4 fan and the Tahltan Lake shoreline;

• Installation of a new groundwater monitoring well at the main spawning area (GW-3) and rehabilitation of the well at the toe of Aquifer A4 in the “sinkholes” area (GW-1);

• Drone surveys of the Aquifer A4 fan apex and the lower Johnny Tashoots beaver management reach;

• Preparation of a draft IPCA design for the Tahltan Lake / Telegraph Creek Sub-unit; and

• Participation in the Tahltan Lake Weir Replacement Working Group (TLWRWG) process.

Sacred Headwaters and Klappan:

• Completing assessments along the abandoned BC rail grade right of way in the section between Dease Lake, starting at the Tanzilla Bridge, and the Stikine River rail bridge;

• Finishing the rail grade inspections in the southernmost sections of the Skeena sub-unit of the rail grade;

• Conducting water quality sampling at potable water sites used by Tahltan community members along the rail grade;

• Completed a detailed impact study of one Skeena River site along the grade; and

• Conducted community consultation in Iskut and on the rail grade to select sites for water quality sampling of key potable water sites for the community.

Top: Morning at Tahltan Lake.

Bottom: The Sheslay River, with the Hackett in the distance.

TCGFD Capacity Development 2022 Scope:

Capacity development activities were continued from the 2021 scope of work. Capacity development activities that were included in the 2022 scope included the following:

• Continued training of the Aquatic Protection Officer (APO) and the drone operator around the collection of water quality samples, river geomorphology, and aquatic ecology.

• The APO is on a path toward fulfilling the requirements to becoming a Registered Professional through scope of work and training. Major training includes an Environmental Impact Assessment Certificate program.

Objectives:

The key objectives of this study are outlined below:

1 To provide protection mechanisms for areas having significant cultural, ecological, and sustenance values for Tahltans;

a Identify and assess the critical ecosystem processes for salmon and resident species to support the delineation of protected areas and design of management prescriptions.

2 Provide a science-based approach to addressing climate change adaptation, species at risk concerns, and to protect the provision of ecosystem services across Tahltan Territory;

a Already being aware of its vital importance, obtaining key hydrology data will be necessary for defining protected areas and management approaches.

3 To reduce uncertainty for government agencies, industry, businesses, and resource partners while providing protection and conservation measures for areas outlined as having high cultural and ecological value;

a Identification and protection of highly important fisheries areas maintained by key ecosystem services will reduce uncertainty in water or fisheries management and Environmental Impact Assessment for current or future proposed industrial development in the watersheds.

4 Optimize capacity development within the TCG including;

a Current staff training and professional advancement;

b Hiring of new staff;

c Creation of job descriptions and contracts; and

d Purchase of key equipment to advance capabilities.

2022 RESULTS AND SUMMARY OF KEY OUTCOMES:

The following section provides a brief outline of the key findings of the 2022 scope of work for the 2022 project year.

Hackett River / Sheslay: The 2022 scope has enabled us to assemble existing information about the Upper Nahlin watershed fisheries and map it into a format suitable for community consultation. An overflight was conducted of key spawning areas that provided current information on the location of key spawning areas. Groundwater aquifer prospecting was a component of the 2022 work and it has highlighted the high potential for groundwater aquifers in the areas draining from Level Mountain and the connection to key salmon spawning areas around the periphery of the mountain. Level Mountain is an important source of groundwater to fisheries in the Nahlin and Tahltan River systems. A second overflight of the burn affected watersheds (Little Tahltan River, Bear Creek and Beatty Creek) with a terrain stability specialist has given a more detailed assessment of the erosion potential of the burned areas and the potential for adverse impacts to water quality over the longer term. The overflight also allowed for the re-assessment of the Beatty Creek log jam and recommendations for the development of a management plan during the 2023 field season. The overall results of the 2022 assessments puts TCG Fisheries in a position to outline an IPCA candidate.

Tahltan Lake: The Tahltan Lake 2022 scope of work has allowed the department to fully engage in the TLDWG process. The process of replacing the weir is now underway and the Tahltan Lake studies conducted under this project have supported that process. The work has also enabled us to install and initiate a wider range of groundwater and surface water monitoring at the site to better understand the hydrology of the lake and how it supports the fishery. A draft IPCA conservation area design was finalized in this project year which puts conservation of fisheries and of fish habitat around Tahltan Lake and Telegraph Creek on a solid footing.

Sacred Headwaters and Klappan: Work in the Headwaters / Klappan in 2022 has allowed us to complete the overall assessment of all the abandoned

rail grade in Tahltan Territory which will support future reclamation activities and land protection. The water quality sampling at potable water sites is a starting point for the protection and assessment of potable water sites along the rail grade. More detailed assessment of one key Skeena River site (km 150) will support the overall assessment of mitigation priorities and plans moving forward.

Capacity Development: Capacity development has proceeded well through the 2022 project year in both the new Drone Program and the Aquatic Protection Officer (APO) training and orientation. These are both capacity development initiatives that have contributed well to Fisheries Department activities so far and will continue to add value moving forward.

Over the past three years, our ability to hold community engagements was derailed by the pandemic and limited to online tools and interactions. We were fortunate to hold one engagement session in the community of Iskut to gain information and direction for water sample locations on the Klappan rail grade. In addition, opportunistic community engagement has occurred during the field program, particularly on the rail grade and at Sheslay / Hackett where community members were on the land and were able to provide valuable input.

Nobody knows this country and the landscape as well as you, our Tahltan people, who occupy and utilize these lands. Your specific knowledge in these locations is not contained in a textbook or a written document somewhere; it is contained within the person, their memories, and the minds of those that walk, travel, and harvest from our territory.

TCG Fisheries has a large staff of Tahltan members that has also allowed us to gain valuable community input to support our investigations.

Above: Fabian Vance at work on the Tahltan Lake egg take.

Health & Wellness

Background

Cassandra Puckett Health & Wellness Director

In December of 2021, the Etzenlee Family Representative, Ann Ball, brought forward a briefing note for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) to approve the creation of a TCG Health Department. The recommendation was approved, and the discussions amongst the TCG Board of Directors began to take shape over the next couple of years. The process from proposal to fruition requires many conversations at the Board level, with additional time needed to determine operational approaches before being able to take the steps necessary for recruitment. In October 2022, the TCG posted a job for the TCG Health Director position on various platforms. Interviews were held in November, with the successful candidate announced in late December.

Health & Wellness Activities ONBOARDING AND ORIENTATION

Firstly, I want to say that I am incredibly honoured and humbled to have accepted the position of Health Director for the TCG’s Health & Wellness Department. As part of developing this department, a thorough and succinct review must be conducted, as well as creating a fulsome feasibility study consisting of meaningful engagement and open and transparent dialogue founded on Tahltan values that will guide and determine how the TCG Health & Wellness Department will be designed, developed, and implemented for years to come.

While I officially came on as Health & Wellness Director in January 2023, it was essential to ensure the Education & Training Department’s initiatives, projects, and student applications continued to be handled promptly until the new Education & Training Director was hired and onboarded. I was very excited when Stacey Hanik joined the team in late February 2023. Having spent a week in March with Stacey for knowledge transmission, onboarding, and orientation

to the Education & Training Department, it is evident that Stacey’s passion for education will be a gift to the TCG and the Nation as a whole. I am genuinely excited to witness how Stacey will continue to enhance the Education & Training Department’s many projects, initiatives, and support mechanisms.

2023 HEALTH AND WELLNESS CONFERENCES

February to April was a whirlwind of activity and travel that encompassed various health and wellness conferences, networking, and immersion into some of the health initiatives at a provincial level through the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA). The exposure provided the opportunity to gain greater awareness of how the Tahltan Nation can align with FNHA, First Nations Health Council (FNHC), and First Nations Health Directors Association (FNHDA) to ensure the Nation’s health concerns remain at the forefront and are advocated for at the highest levels. Through networking and connecting with other First Nations in BC, it was clear that a lot of the challenges and barriers

are even further compounded in Tahltan Territory due to factors such as the remoteness of our territory, recruitment and retention issues in the healthcare field, and other variables that increase challenges to addressing healthcare concerns.

Gathering Wisdom XIII (February 28 – March 3, 2023)

It was an honour to attend the Gathering Wisdom XIII conference and witness a historic decision to approve the First Nations Health Council’s 10-Year Strategy on Social Determinants of Health (SDOH): A Framework for the Future. There were 173 chiefs and leaders in attendance, and 86 per cent voted to endorse the framework and continue to work towards improving health outcomes for all First Nations people in BC. In short, the Social Determinants of Health influence individuals, families, communities, and Nations' health and wellness outcomes which encompasses elements such as culture, language, ceremony, education, employment and working conditions, gender, social support networks, social inclusion, access to health services and much more. By recognizing the interconnectedness of the SDOH, we can broaden our perspectives on health and create innovative and transformative holistic and inclusive approaches guided by the Nation.

You may be wondering how this framework impacts the Tahltan Nation. As the TCG Health & Wellness Department continues to come to fruition, it will be essential to ensure we are in alignment with the organizations in areas of political advocacy (FNHC), program and services (FNHA), as well as leveraging the technical support through the FNHDA and building a network with First Nations across BC that have a common goal of improved health and wellness.

FNHA Northern Addictions Engagement and Knowledge Exchange Forum (March 23 – 26, 2023)

This critical forum was created in response to the overwhelming need for northern communities to gather to share challenges and discuss resources and ways to move forward in the face of the toxic drug emergency that continues to see high rates of overdose-related deaths. Keynote speakers included Dr. Gabor Mate, whose work on the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver continues to shed light on trauma as the root cause of addiction and not a personal defect of those struggling with addiction-related issues. One point that always resonates is that addiction, whether it be substances, shopping, gaming, or work, is a very normal reaction to an abnormal situation (trauma). Substance misuse is not a deficit of character; it is a symptom of a more profound pain that is too difficult to carry.

In essence, addiction is a coping strategy to deal with the trauma one has experienced. I believe that if we see through a lens of compassion, we will be on our way to healing not just ourselves but the ones that came before us and those that are yet to come.

The other keynote speaker was Jordin Tootoo. It was amazing to hear, firsthand, his experience and struggles in the NHL and how he overcame them. What was refreshing about this forum was the inclusion of people in active addiction or lived experiences in addiction. Having the voice of those who have walked or are walking the path is important when discussing the development of programs and services. Honouring people’s journeys is vital for their health and wellness. People's stories must be central to their health journey, as it is only through inclusivity that we will foster a sense of belonging that is foundational in our lives.

FNHA Health and Wellness Summit: Sharing Wise, CommunityDriven Practices for Wholistic Wellness (April 4-6, 2023)

The FNHA Health and Wellness Summit: Sharing wise, communitydriven practices for wholistic wellness was an opportunity to learn of the innovative ways First Nations in BC are addressing critical health issues such as mental health and addictions, food sovereignty, the toxic drug crisis, primary care, and health emergency management. With over 20 breakout sessions available, seeing the various programs and services focused on traditional values and teachings to support health and wellness was inspiring.

TAHLTAN NATION HEALTH DOCUMENT REVIEW

The historical work done by the Tahltan Band, Iskut Band Council, and the 3Nations regarding health and wellness is plentiful. From the 2012 Getting Our Voices Back – Tahltan Leadership Forum to more recent engagement activities, there have been many advances in health and wellness in the Tahltan Territory. It is always important to thoroughly understand what has been shared in the past to see where we are in the present and to support the determination of the future direction of the TCG Health & Wellness Department. Over the coming months, the TCG Health & Wellness Department will continue to review and explore areas in which the TCG can support both the Tahltan Band and the Iskut Band Council in areas related to health and wellness, as directed by our Nation's governance and Leadership.

In closing, my hope and intention are to work towards supporting improved health and wellness outcomes for Tahltans grounded in traditional ways of being, knowing, and doing. As Tahltan people, we inherently know what we need to be well and have what we need in our land and culture. That is not to say that our Western medical system does not have a vital part to play in health; it means that by bringing forward the old ways, we can walk in partnership with the current health system to honour who we are as Tahltan people. As it has been said, if we do not make time for our health, we will be forced to make time for our illness. I am committed to building the TCG Health & Wellness Department that reflects who we are as Tahltan people and honouring our past while looking toward our future.

Membership& Genealogy

ELECTIONS

Shannon Frank Director of Membership & Genealogy

In July of 2022 we held a full Leadership election for the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Executive and Board of Directors. President Day retained his position while Vice President, Heather Hawkins returned from a term away, and new Secretary Treasurer, Sandra (Carlick) Marion, was voted in.

All Board of Director positions were filled with new Family Representatives apart from Kimberley Marion who remained the Simgaldtada Family Representative, and the Stikine Claw/Thicke position, which remained empty.

The Stikine Claw/Thicke Family Representative position remained vacant as no candidates were put forth for the July election. In the early fall, a call for candidates for the Stikine/Claw Thicke position garnered two candidates with Colleen Parker being successfully elected for the position.

In the early winter, the Cawtoonma Family Representative position became vacant. Curtis Rattray took the position by acclimation.

This spring we saw the Quock (Dekama) Family Representative position become available which went to a vote with Rocky Jackson becoming the successful candidate.

We welcome the new TCG Board Members to the team.

NEW STAFF

In early 2022, we welcomed Darcie Louie in a part-time position to support the Membership & Genealogy Department. Darcie has had previous experience working in the department and is a great asset to the team, picking up and getting to work immediately. She has been a great addition and are so excited to have her join the TCG team.

HOW MEMBERSHIP SUPPORTS THE DEPARTMENTS AND AFFILIATES OF TCG

TCG Board of Directors: Family Lists and information requests.

TCG Executive and Administration: Statistics and demographics.

TCG Communications & External Relations Department: Branding, meeting logistics, email/voice/text blasts, and newsletter mail outs.

TCG Events Manager: Logistical support with regional meetings and general support for large event preparations.

TCG Finance Department: Quarterly Elders reports and projections.

TCG Health & Wellness Department: Working collaboratively to look at program needs based on gaps being offered in current programming available to status and non-status Tahltans.

TCG Lands and Wildlife Departments: Contact information pertaining to traplines, land use studies, and surveys.

TCG Culture & Heritage Department: There is overlap between our departments, as such we work symbiotically researching, planning, and executing deliverables.

TCG Dease Lake Community, Fisheries, and Language Departments: The majority of our work thus far has been related to TCG projects outside of Membership & Genealogy.

TCG Education & Training Department: Providing Membership & Genealogy verification and verification letters.

TCG Employment & Business Department: Providing membership verification for OnTrack, and providing industry with membership verification for preferential hiring.

TCG Tourism Department: Information sharing.

TCG Multimedia Department: Contact information.

Iskut Band and Tahltan Band: Information requests regarding statistical/demographic information and contact information.

3Nations, Emergency Management Committee, Social, Cultural Working Group: Demographics and statistics.

Voting: For any vote that occurs within TCG from Leadership elections to industry votes, our membership list is engaged.

Members: Verification letters for education, housing, social services, and sporting events.

TCG is a team, we support each other with onboarding new employees and Board of Director members.

The maintenance of membership records is in a constant state of fluctuation as our members live out their lives and change names (mostly women), have children, relocate, and sadly, pass away. As a result, the membership numbers change daily.

DIGITAL RECORDS

• 6,000 records in the system

• 3,900 active members

• 3,000 records examined in the last year

TAHLTAN MEMBERSHIP DEMOGRAPHICS

Tahltans Residing out of Territory:

3,185

Tahltans Residing in Territory:

715

Total: 3,900

2,666

387

Tahltan Demographics by Age

Education & Training

Background

The Education & Training Department came into being on August 15, 2018. At the 2017 Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Annual General Assembly (AGA), a resolution was brought forth which stated the following:

Stacey Hanik Education & Training Director

That the TCG collaborate with the other shareholders (Tahltan Band and Iskut Band) of the Tahltan Heritage Trust to begin accessing the interest funds from the Trust on an annual basis and utilize such funds annually to help support Tahltan students and trainees. The funds should be made available to anyone with Tahltan ancestry in pursuit of employment and training certificates, high school upgrading, post-secondary studies, trades programs and any other reasonable programs that help Tahltan members become meaningfully employed in the workforce. A special education and training board, made up of representatives of all three government entities and other Tahltan members should be established to create proper policies. Amendment – add a three-year clause to revisit this resolution.

From this resolution, the Education Advisory was created and is comprised of Chad Day (Chair), Ann Ball, Freda Campbell, Maureen Johnstone, and Norma Louie. We currently have one vacant seat on the Education Advisory. The advisory developed the Education & Training policies found on the TCG website, along with the application forms for short-term training courses and post-secondary/trades programs.

To summarize, anyone of Tahltan ancestry can apply for funding for short term certifications, for post-secondary programs and trades training. Each student is allowed a maximum of $5,000 per year for short-term training certifications and $10,000 per academic year, from September 1 to August 31, for post-secondary and trade programs.

To qualify for funding, an applicant must:

• be of Tahltan ancestry.

• be a confirmed registered member of the TCG.

• be in good financial standing with the TCG, the Tahltan Band, and the Iskut Band (if applicable).

• be applying for funding for a program that meets the program eligibility requirements set out in the policy.

As per the 2018 AGA resolution amendment, the resolution will be revisited and revised (if required) at the 2024 TCG AGA to ensure the department continues to be implemented in a way that is in alignment with and guided by the Tahltan Nation.

Departmental Changes

The 2022/2023 year has brought a great deal of change to the Education & Training Department. This year, we bid farewell to an exceptional member of our team, Cassandra Puckett. Cassandra has been an integral part of the TCG Education & Training team since October 2020, bringing with her a wealth of expertise and knowledge in her role as Director that has greatly contributed to our team's success.

Cassandra's infectious positivity and unwavering commitment to her work have made her a beloved colleague to all who have had the pleasure of working with her. Her presence will undoubtedly be missed, but we are thrilled to see her pursue her passion for health and wellness by supporting the development of the TCG’s new Health & Wellness where she will be

leading as the department director. We have no doubt that she will continue to make a positive impact on our organization and our Nation.

We also recently bid farewell to Kelli Louie, our Education Coordinator, and we are actively seeking to fill this role with a qualified and passionate individual. We recognize this position's importance and its impact on our organization's success. As such, we are taking great care in our search process to ensure we find the right fit for our team.

Finally, we are happy to announce that Stacey Hanik has joined our team as the new Education & Training Director. Although she is not a new face in our territory, having worked at the Tahltan School many years ago, we are excited to welcome her back.

Since her time at the Tahltan School, Stacey has pursued her passion for events and convention management, completing a diploma in the field, followed by a Bachelor of Tourism Management. For the past three years, she has been working within the mining industry at Red Chris Mine, gaining valuable knowledge and experience.

We are confident that Stacey's unique background and expertise will be an asset to our organization. As Education & Training Director, she will be instrumental in enhancing our training programs, developing new educational initiatives, and building our partnerships with industry.

We appreciate your patience during this transition and look forward to introducing a new Education & Training team who will bring their unique skills and experience to support our education programs and initiatives.

Above: Tahltan HEO training program participants.

TCG Education & Training Student Funding

We are pleased to see a 66% increase in student applications for post-secondary education, trades, and short-term certifications. This upward trend is a testament to our ongoing efforts to enhance and improve the program based on the valuable recommendations and feedback we receive from Tahltan Nation members.

To ensure the TCG Education & Training program can continue supporting Tahltan Nation members now and in the future, students may need to apply for federally funded programs where applicable. Our commitment to Tahltan values is demonstrated through cost-sharing and collaboration with external funding providers.

Our cost-sharing partnership opportunities have enabled us to save on education and training expenses while offering more Tahltan members access to education and training initiatives. By collaborating with external funding providers, we can extend the reach of our Education & Training program, ultimately providing more opportunities for our community members to succeed.

The TCG, together with the generous support of our business partners, offers academic bursaries to Tahltan students pursuing post-secondary education, trades, and community capacity development/ skill development bursaries. The TCG has been administering bursaries since the inception of the Education & Training Department in 2018.

To be eligible for a bursary, an applicant must be of Tahltan ancestry and a member of the TCG. Students do not have to be a registered status Indian under the Indian Act. The only criteria are that they are a member of the TCG.

Students can be from anywhere, studying anywhere, and in any accredited post-secondary institution or trade school.

Under the Tahltan Central Government Bursary program, three categories of bursaries are available:

1 Post-Secondary

2 . Trades and Skills Development

3 Community Development

We are grateful to have the following contributions:

2022/2023 BURSARY CONTRIBUTIONS

Left & Right: Tahltan HEO training program participants.

Tahltan Central Government Partnership Initiatives

We are thrilled to announce the successful launch of our first Heavy Equipment Operators (HEO) training program in partnership with the BC Government, Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC), Contact North BC (CNBC), and Newcrest Mining Ltd. The program consisted of three components: Drivers' License training and certification, an HEO Mentorship Program and the HEO Development Program.

We received an overwhelming response of 46 applicants for the driving program and 24 participants completed the online Class Four Learners program. In addition, 29 senior operators were certified as mentors, and four participants successfully completed the HEO Development Program. In addition to supporting individual applicants, we are thrilled to have been able to support Dease Lake Pro Driving School, a newly formed Tahltan-owned and operated business.

We believe this program's success is just the beginning of a long and prosperous future within our territory. We want to express our gratitude to Lee Vincent and Caitlin Nicholson for their tireless efforts and for making this program possible. We look forward to expanding our HEO program to create new opportunities for our community.

Contact North BC (CNBC)

We are excited to share that alongside the HEO program, we are partnering with CNBC to provide several other exciting opportunities to the Tahltan Nation community.

Starting at the end of June, with the support of the Dease Lake Community Director, part two of the Fitness Instructor training will be available to those who completed part one.

Additionally, CNBC is collaborating with the 3 Nations to enroll students in the Indigenous Human Service Worker Diploma at Nicola Valley Institute, which will begin in September 2023. We are proud to announce that five people from Tahltan Territory have already applied for this program.

An online Computer Fundamentals course began on April 16 through Northern Lights College, with 20 community members ranging in age from 19 to 85 participating. This course will continue online every Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm until mid-May.

There are currently nine students from the three communities actively pursuing their English and math upgrading through Coast Mountain College and Northern Lights College. They are scheduled to complete their respective programs by June 2023.

Lastly, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to two community members from Iskut who are nearly finished with their first year of the Education Assistant program at Coast Mountain College.

We are committed to providing more opportunities like these to our community and look forward to sharing more updates in the future.

SkilledTradesBC

In partnership with the Stikine School District #87, Coast Mountain College, and SkilledTradesBC (formerly the Industry Trades Authority of BC), we were excited to announce a Trades Skills Sampler program, which was intended to take place in Dease Lake this spring. The program was designed to offer four cohorts, each consisting of twelve students, with 20 hours of training in the following five trades - Carpentry, Plumbing, Electrical, Welding, and Small Motor/Automotive Mechanics. This opportunity was specifically created for Dease Lake high-school students, with a maximum of 16 students in each cohort, for a total of 48 students. Regrettably, we could not find enough instructors to fill the required positions, which led to the postponement of the program. We are hopeful that we can reschedule the program for a later date.

SkilledTradesBC is committed to promoting trades and increasing apprenticeship opportunities across our territory. Together, we believe that showcasing the advantages of trades as a career path can inspire more individuals to consider pursuing apprenticeships and help bridge the skills gap in the workforce.

Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) and the University of British Columbia (UBC)

We value and appreciate this partnership, which has consistently brought growth and progress to our Youth year after year. This year, we were delighted to bring 10 Youth to Vancouver to participate in various learning, fun, and work activities at the 2023 AME Round-Up.

As in previous years, we dedicated a day to touring the UBC facilities, including the Museum of Anthropology, where we viewed Tahltan artifacts. We also explored the campus and learned about the career and education paths that UBC offers. We extend our special thanks to Dana-Lyn Mackenzie for making this experience possible.

The Youth attended a hockey game, toured the AME tradeshow floor, participated in many learning initiatives and presentations from industry, and assisted with the first ever Tahltan Night gala.

The Tahltan Nation is at the forefront of Indigenous groups, dismantling barriers to educate and train our Youth. As we continue to work together in partnership and collaboration, the Tahltan Nation continues to inspire and lead other Nations across BC and Canada. Opportunities like these enable our Youth to grow, learn, and pursue their dreams. We look forward to sustaining this partnership in the future.

In closing, as our department undergoes a transition, we want to emphasize our unwavering commitment to a singular goal – to promote self-sufficiency and self-determination across the Nation by enhancing capacity-building initiatives. We understand the significance of providing access to educational opportunities and resources. We aim to continue growing and learning alongside the Tahltan Nation to build a strong, trustworthy, and dedicated Education & Training Department.

This will be a process of constant learning and improvement and may present challenges and obstacles, but we remain committed to our mission and remain dedicated to providing the best possible educational experiences and opportunities to the Tahltan Nation. We look forward to collaborating with the community to achieve our shared vision for a brighter future. Once again, we express our sincere gratitude for your trust and support.

Employment & Business

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

Highlights

• Tahltan Business Registry Policy– Approved by the Tahltan Central Government (TCG) Board.

• Assisting Tahltan businesses in ensuring they are meeting the criteria to work in exploration, forestry, tourism, and mining within Tahltan Territory.

Ann Ball Employment & Business Director

• Leadership/Industry Meetings – At these meetings, industry partners were again informed that all opportunities are to be forwarded to the TCG to ensure that the names of Tahltan businesses who have identified that they do those services can be put forth.

• The TCG has no influence on who gets contracts. Our mandate is to put all registered Tahltan businesses forth that provide the services requested from industry. Tahltan businesses are put forth as per their description of the services provided. Industry partners present contracts based on the quotes they have received and then collaborate accordingly.

• Impact Benefit Agreements and the new Engagement Agreements, which encompass the old Opportunities Agreement, are the basis of expectations for the Employment & Business Department in alignment with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).

• Promoting and advocating for Tahltan businesses with all mining and exploration companies who have agreements in place with the TCG.

• Advocating for Tahltan employees who officially request our support, with eight cases of this to be included for this year’s annual report, and twelve in the previous two years. We practice the strictest of confidentiality during advocation. This does not mean I am involved in the investigation, but more so in making it clear to the industry partner that I am involved via contact from the Tahltan advocation.

• Collaborating with Membership & Genealogy Department to ensure Tahltans are registering properly with OnTrack.

• Collaborating with the Education &Training Department and assist with specific training initiatives to prepare members for upcoming the exploration field season.

• Union collaboration agreement meetings for the Red Chris Mine: This is ongoing, and we are making our rights and title the top priority and our Impact, Benefit, and Co-Management Agreement (IBCA) with the mine is to be upheld above the collaboration agreement.

See “Tahltan OnTrack” on Page 57 for more information

OnTrack

OnTrack is fully owned by the TCG and is in partnership with the Essential Skills Group via the BC Government to be the Tahltan overall skills database and the Tahltan Human Resources (HR) database .

OnTrack was reviewed and we are in the process of making modifications to simplify the platform both for the essential skills database and the OnTrack website. OnTrack will also grow to hold the Tahltan Business Registry in a separate TCG owned database but linked to the OnTrack website for synergy. These database options are being reviewed for development.

the third-party accounting firm hired to vet the Tahltan businesses for the Tahltan Business Registry Policy.

Visit ontrack.tahltan.org

to watch Tahltan success stories, discover opportunities and identify essential skills

OnTrack will also house the secure portal email for Tahltan businesses to input their secure data to MNP,

The OnTrack Business database will hold all registered and third-party vetted, Tahltan businesses, as well as an area for industry partners to be able to put forth business opportunities that Tahltan businesses can then bid on.

https://ontrack.tahltan.org

Above: Keelan Frocklage, Ann Ball, and Cagney Edzerza at the Dease Lake Job Fair.

Tahltan OnTrack

The Tahltan Central Government is working hard to connect Tahltans–no matter where you live, your education, or your job experience–with the vast array of job opportunities in Tahltan Territory!

ABOUT TAHLTAN ONTRACK

Discover your perfect career

Find

Now the Community and Environment Coordinator at Red Chris Mine, Chantel Quock began her career as a summer student, working as an entry level assistant with Galore Creek She began her studies with funding from the Tahltan Central Government and the Tahltan Band, then won scholarships from Red Chris While working full time, Chantel took courses online and earned her Bachelor of Science in Environmental Practice from Royal Roads University View her and other success stories at ontrack.tahltan.org

HARDWIRED FOR SUCCESS

Tahltans have always known that we have a unique skill set and problem-solving is in our blood. Tahltans who work in resource development know that these skills are transferable to the workplace. The resource development industry needs workers with a vested interest in their projects. OnTrack showcases our skills and connects Tahltan job-seekers with opportunities.

IN CONTROL OF YOUR FUTURE

By creating your own profile in the OnTrack database, Tahltans are able to create a resume and connect with Tahltan-exclusive employment opportunities. After completing an essential skills assessment, you will automatically be notified of new jobs that match your career interests and essential skills.

GET ON TRACK

Learn about the jobs you qualify for, regardless of formal education. Tahltan members can earn certification and qualifications for their skills, identify opportunities for education and training, and follow career building paths.

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

Tourism

The Tourism Department was formed in November 2021 and tasked with two goals: developing a strategy for how the Nation can become more involved with tourism, and investing in tourism opportunities that align with those goals. The motivation for forming this department was also two-fold: to diversify the local economy so as not to be solely dependent on one industry, and to build an industry from a way of life. Both are far-reaching, long-term goals that, if done right, will serve the Nation well for generations to come.

Alex Buri

Tourism Director

Top: Spectrum Range.

Bottom: Natadesleen.

Opposite:

HIGHLIGHTS

1 Completed a comprehensive ground assessment of potential tourism regions.

2 . Drafted strategic goals for the next three years.

3 Secured $1M in tourism-related funding for the Tāłtān Signage Project.

4 Connected Tahltan Youth with the guide outfitting industry.

5 Forged partnerships and explored collaboration opportunities.

6 Invested in assets to facilitate engagement in land-based activities.

7 . Completed due diligence of strategic tourism investments.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL ENGAGEMENT

Over the past year, I prioritized listening, learning, and understanding the perspectives of communities, members, and stakeholders involved in tourism. We engaged in candid conversations to identify the role tourism can play when it comes to Tahltan values and aspirations for the future.

These conversations highlighted several development and management priorities, including:

1 Increasing Tahltan use and occupation of the territory.

2 Facilitating Youth engagement in land-based activities.

3 Establishing multipurpose camps and infrastructure.

4 . Reopening ancestral and historical trails.

5 Hands-on support for Tahltan tourism entrepreneurs.

6 Ensuring Tahltan ownership of key assets and infrastructure.

7 Managing existing tourism activities in the territory.

Glacial lake at the foot of King Mountain in the Jade Boulder region.

Externally, I have established strong relationships with key tourism organizations at the provincial and national levels, fostering collaborations with neighbouring First Nations and exploring opportunities for product development and Youth exchanges that would help build future capacity. Across the board, it is clear that demand and attention for Indigenous tourism is on the rise with commitments at multiple levels for substantial investments to fund the growth of Indigenous tourism over the next years.

A few of the key events, conferences, and engagements I attended:

• International Indigenous Tourism Conference, Winnipeg

• Indigenous Tourism Association of BC meeting, Vancouver

• BC Tourism and Hospitality Conference, Prince George

• Meetings in Whitehorse and Atlin with local and Indigenous tourism leaders

FEASIBILITY STUDY

To identify potential tourism regions, I conducted extensive trips throughout Tahltan Territory last year. I assessed various areas for their tourism development potential and cultural significance. Notable regions included the Boulder and Jade regions, Spatsizi, Edziza, Klappan Headwaters, Bob Quinn, Ningunsaw, the Lower Iskut and Stikine Rivers, Stikine and Tuya canyons, Shesley, Nahlin, and Tatsemenie and Trapper lakes. These visits confirmed the spectacular landscapes and authentic experiences Tahltan Territory can offer to travellers seeking meaningful and authentic experiences.

STRATEGIC GOALS

In line with the Tahltan Central Government's (TCG’s) three-year strategic planning cycle, I drafted strategic goals and objectives for the Tourism Department. These goals emphasize aligning tourism with community values, developing robust management policies, building capacity for future workers with outdoor experience and skills, and making strategic investments in tourism businesses and infrastructure.

Above: Las Lui fishing lodge in the heart of the Spatsizi.

TĀŁTĀN SIGNAGE PROJECT

In March 2023, we secured a $1 million tourism-related development grant from the BC provincial government that will be used for improving and developing tourism, wayfinding, and interpretive signage throughout the territory and building upon previous signage projects done in the past. This will be a two-year project that will be done in close collaboration with other TCG departments and guided by a steering committee and working group. The project aims to reflect Tahltan stories, cultural relevance, the Tāłtān language, and significant places desired to be shared with visitors and will involve the development of new signage and the replacement and improvement of existing signage throughout the territory.

YOUTH IN GUIDE OUTFITTING

Building upon the historical significance of guide outfitting in Tahltan Territory, the Tourism Department started working closely with guide outfitters and the Tahltan Guide Outfitters Association to open new lines of communication with the over 25 outfitters that are operating in Tahltan Territory. This effort aims to support the growth and stability of tourism, particularly in the guide outfitting industry, and sustainable wildlife management under the guidance of the Wildlife Department.

In February 2023, we also facilitated an application process to select Tahltan Youth with experience and interest in hunting to join in attending one of the world's largest hunting and outfitting conventions in Nashville. There were 15 outfitters from Tahltan Territory in attendance, and this invaluable experience provided the Youth with the opportunity to actively

engage with outfitters at their booths, explore potential job opportunities within our territory, and gain valuable insights into the outfitting industry.

Additionally, working with the Education & Training Department, plans are underway to establish a Tahltan-led guide outfitting and wrangling school to provide Youth with opportunities to work in the industry and explore diverse employment prospects. The first course is set to take place this summer.

LOOKING AHEAD

Looking ahead to the next year, the Tourism Department is committed to further advancing its strategic goals. One key focus will be on the implementation and execution of the signage project, ensuring that the project is on track for completion within its two-year timeline.

In addition to the signage project, the Tourism Department will continue to nurture and expand partnerships with key tourism organizations, neighbouring First Nations, and tour operators. These collaborations will enable us to explore joint opportunities for tourism corridors, product development, and Youth exchanges.

Meaningful tourism development takes time to ensure it is built on a strong foundation of understanding, community support, and alignment with everyone involved. Our efforts will initially be centred on opening up access to the territory for Tahltans, allowing them to connect with their land, engage in cultural activities, and pursue hunting, healing, wellness, and other traditional practices. This, in turn, will build the capacity and future tourism leaders of tomorrow.

Left: Tahltan Youth trip to SCI Convention in Nashville, 2023.

DEPARTMENT MESSAGE

Communications & External

The Communications & External Relations Department develops and implements strategic education and information campaigns on behalf of the Tahltan Central Government (TCG). We provide issues management expertise and support building trusted, positive relationships with key partners, stakeholders, external agencies, government, media, and industry to further the work and goals of the Tahltan Nation. We create press releases, event materials and other tools to share the work of our Nation. We develop and maintain TCG’s websites and social media accounts, and key communications tools including quarterly newsletters, and our annual newsletters which include the Fish & Wildlife Newsletter, the Industry Review, and this Annual Report.

Assisting our fellow TCG departments on major projects is an important aspect of our work, and we serve to ensure that each department can communicate its message to members, other governments, and the public as well as strategically manage and mitigate operational challenges as they may arise. We aim to contribute to the success of all TCG department initiatives and to highlight achievements within the organization.

Our Department in 2022-2023

The Communications & External Relations Department is focused on continuous evolution and development, working on behalf of all members of the Tahltan Nation. We work to refine internal and external channels of communication and engagement as the scope of the projects within Tahltan Nation evolves.

MAJOR PROJECTS OVERVIEW

At a glance, some of our key projects have included:

• Returning to in-person engagement, supporting membership meetings with President Chad Norman Day, the Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI), TCG’s Elders Council, and engagement through our departments including the Culture & Heritage, Dease Lake Community, Education & Training Department, Employment & Business Department, Fisheries, Lands, Language, Wildlife, and Tourism Departments.

• Supporting virtual engagement including Tāłtān Language Lessons.

• Developing and launching the TSI website: tsi.tahltan.org

Working with our Language and Culture & Heritage Departments on the first Orange Shirt Day within Tahltan Nation.

• Involvement in various industry site tours with TCG Leadership.

• Supporting Tahltan Leadership at First Nation Leadership and BC Cabinet meetings with a multitude of ministries to further the goals of the Tahltan Nation.

• Policy development and support within TCG including regarding data management, media, business, and language policies.

• Planning and facilitating provincial leadership visits to Tahltan Territory, including Premier John Horgan, and Minister of Mines, Josie Osborne.

Ombrielle Neria Communications & External Relations Director

Opposite, top: TSI Website.

Opposite, bottom: TCG Orange Shirt Day.

Communications Relations

• Drafting and supporting successful funding applications internally, which included Destination Development Fund support for the Tāłtān Signage Project, and the New Relationship Trust Indigenous Resilience and Reconciliation Recovery Grant funding to support the Culture & Heritage Department’s Elders on the Land project. This support furthers the overall goals of Tahltan Nation.

• Planning and executing multi-day meetings at the Association for Mineral Exploration (AME) between Tahltan Leadership from TCG, Tahltan Band, Iskut Band, and industry partners, allowing Leadership to advocate for the collective rights and title of the Tahltan Nation.

• Planning and supporting Tahltan Leadership and Youth attendance at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) Convention alongside TCG’s Events Manager which included speaking engagements from TCG President, Chad Norman Day, and Tahltan Nation Development Corporation (TNDC) CEO, Paul Gruner.

• Supporting TCG’s Events Manager in organizing the first ever Tahltan Night in Vancouver at this year’s AME Roundup Event.

• Strengthening and evolving partnerships with key stakeholders including the Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, Ministry of Transportation, and Infrastructure (MOTI), BC Parks, BC Emergency Health Services, School District 87, and industry.

• Brand refinement, trademarking, and development.

OUR ONGOING, FOUNDATIONAL PROJECTS INCLUDE

• Supporting the development of strategic communications and engagement tools, processes, and best practices to support the TCG Chief Administrative Officer, Executive Team, Board of Directors, and TCG Department Directors to enable effective decision-making, information sharing, and risk management as opportunities and challenges arise.

• Working with TCG Department Directors to create comprehensive and aligned communications to support the strategic goals of Tahltan Nation.

• Working to support harmonious and effective relations with Tahltan members on TCG projects and initiatives through in-person and online engagement, workshops, and communications.

• Developing internships and contracting opportunities for Tahltan Youth to get involved with the department.

• Creating TCG’s Newsletters and other communication tools.

• Increasing engagement with TCG social media through new, engaging content, and collaboration, including the sharing of imagery, videography, and member stories.

• Building relationships and enhancing communication and collaboration with local, municipal, provincial, and federal governments in support of the Nation’s priorities and projects.

• Building new and strengthening existing relationships with organizations and external entities to support TCG’s operational goals and objectives.

• •Expanding media relations reach by building new relationships and strengthening existing ones both locally, nationally, and internationally to support TCG operations and goals.

Facilitating Communications Around Tahltan Territory, TCG’s Communications and Engagement Agreements

TCG’s Communications and Engagement Agreements are designed to ensure that companies working within Tahltan Territory meaningfully engage our Nation and respect Tahltan title and rights. These innovative agreements help us navigate complex relationships with industry. They do not constitute consent on any project but help us to communicate to membership and support engagement between our Leadership on projects in Tahltan Territory, many of which have been permitted by provincial authorities without Tahltan

Below, left: Premier John Horgan visits Tahltan Territory.

Below, right: Iskut Band Chief Marie Quock (left), Minister Josie Osborne (center), and TCG President Chad Norman Day (right).

consent. This has occurred prior to the evolution of current legislations including BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (DRIPA) which will potentially require significant changes in how First Nations are included in projects within their traditional territory with shared decision-making being achieved, and consent being required. Every company in Tahltan Territory must have an agreement with us to have healthy and meaningful relations with the TCG. The Communications & External Relations Department implements and oversees these agreements, serving as the key contact for industry and a conduit between Tahltan Leadership and our industry partners.

Soon to come: Our brand new TCG Website

We are currently developing a brand-new TCG website. The website will feature a unique space to deliver updates and highlights from our departments to provide greater awareness of the TCG and our internal processes, projects, organizational structure, and employees.

It will also feature a brand-new TCG Members Only Section and will feature important work of our departments including select TCG Archives in collaboration with the Culture & Heritage Director. Stay tuned for its launch expected later this year!

Above: PDAC Youth delegate at Blue Jays baseball game.

Comms at a Glance

PRESS RELEASES AND THEIR REACH

Tahltan Central Government Strongly Asserts Tahltan Territory Borders, Opposes Neighbouring Nations Claims Reach: 52546831

198,816

Desktop Reach: 21191103

Mobile Reach: 31350979

4,787

TNDC partnering with TCG, Province and Industry to create Tahltan Nation Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program

Reach: 67481074

Desktop Reach: 25265062

Mobile Reach: 42211208

Tahltan Central Government Announces Creation of New Health Department

Reach: 14528

Desktop Reach: 6505

Mobile Reach: 3279

TCG and School District 87 Collaborate to Offer Annual International Trip for Dease Lake Graduates

Reach: 8133

Desktop Reach: 5091

Mobile Reach: 3042

Tahltan Wildlife Department Removes Grizzly Bear following Dangerous Encounter at Elder’s Home Reach: 12813

Desktop Reach: 5387

Mobile Reach: 2706

348,348 REACTIONS

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. take step forward to develop wildlife stewardship in Tahltan Territory Reach: 271524

Desktop Reach: 118843

Mobile Reach: 147176

Tahltan Nation Featured at Vancouver International Film Festival

Reach: 12795

Desktop Reach: 5387

1,635

Mobile Reach: 2706

90,330 USERS

11,825 – NEWSLETTERS –

Tahltan Central Government – British Columbia

1,568

Accord on Wildlife Management Reach: 3959685

Desktop Reach: 1172222

5,627

24,473

2,248 SESSIONS

IMPRESSIONS

7,708

Mobile Reach: 2758882

Tahltan Central Government Makes Significant Investment in Predator Management Reach: 8145

Desktop Reach: 2537

Mobile Reach: 1005

Tahltan Central Government Shines on the World Stage Reach: 4585

Desktop Reach: n/a

Mobile Reach: n/a

Tahltan Central Government, B.C. make history under Declaration Act

Reach: 261341

Desktop Reach: 97309

Mobile Reach: 119120

Tahltan Central Government Preserving Language Through Innovative and Accessible Dictionary Project Reach: 4529

Desktop Reach: n/a

Mobile Reach: n/a

TCG responds to recent moves regarding lands near the community of Iskut by Newmont Gold, Skeena Resources and QuestEx Gold & Copper Reach: 5529

Desktop Reach: 4221

Mobile Reach: 1308

Conservancy renamed Ice Mountain, reflects Tahltan heritage

Reach: 22300630

Desktop Reach: 11028838

Mobile Reach: 11271792

TCG Launches Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI) Website Reach: 2698745

Desktop Reach: 1366076

Mobile Reach: 1331894

Tahltan Central Government wins National & International Communications Awards Reach: 12204

Desktop Reach: 5715

Mobile Reach: 6489

RAISE UP WEDNESDAYS

Tahltan Nation,

We are always looking for Inspiring Young Tahltans, Healthy Active Tahltans, Elders and members to profile for our Culture profiles in our seasonal newsletters!

Nominate yourself or friends and family to be featured! Email: communications@tahltan.org at any time!

NEWS REACH MEDIA METRICS

994,109,496

TOTAL NEWS REACH

394,974,396

TOTAL NEWS REACH (DESKTOP)

595,663,075

TOTAL NEWS REACH (MOBILE)

Multimedia

Adam Amir Multimedia Director

The Multimedia Department documents events, stories, and issues important to the Tahltan Nation. We produce various multimedia, particularly videos, to support TCG initiatives. We also maintain a multimedia archive and library. You see our work in the newsletters and reports like this, across TCG’s website and social media, in presentations and in the press. We provide multimedia and creative guidance for TCG's physical and digital deliverables and assist with community engagements via coverage, participation, and tech support.

Since our launch in 2021, we developed a vision and strategy for the department, established a multimedia production kit and system, and built a library of hard drives, all while managing multiple multimedia projects at various stages of production.

Here is an account of our work over the past year.

RECORDING HISTORY AS IT HAPPENS

We focus on covering the work and projects of our colleagues, showcasing their efforts and priorities to membership and the world at large.

Multimedia coverage involves documenting through various formats, including visual, audio, and text, creating and collecting with a range of media: photographs, videos, audio recordings, story notes, various assets dug up in research (archival media, articles, photos or clips from a colleague's phone or drone).

Coverage aims to capture a comprehensive and engaging profile of the project, event, or idea. It involves documenting the people and processes, conducting interviews to find a story, and creating a multimedia package for sharing whatever we have come up with.

From April 1, 2022, to April 1, 2023, we covered a variety of subjects, across Tahltan Territory and beyond. These included:

• The inaugural Youth Training Trip

• Caribou collaring on Edziza, Kawdy, Level, Spatsizi, Tseneglode, and Tuya

• Wolf collaring (attempts, similar areas)

• Dictionary interviews

• First Aid and training courses

• Spatsizi predator work

• CopAur site visit

• Section 7 signing in Victoria

• Premier and Minister’s visit to Tahltan Territory

• Annual General Assembly (AGA)

• Tahltan Stewardship Initiative community engagements

• Elder interviews

• Fish camp

• Culture camp

• Coast Mountain Hydro site visit

• Nahlin scout

• Tahltan Stewardship Initiative Youth Representative interviews

• Glaciers and climate change story development

• Spectrums and Edziza

• Water sampling work

• Wildlife Accord signing

• Chinook survey

• Tahltan Lake Egg Take

• Leadership meetings

• Tahltan artifacts at Museum of Anthropology (MOA)

• Knowledge gathering with Elders and Fisheries

• Roundup: Leadership meetings with Industry, Reception, Youth visit

• Dictionary Project, Round Two

• Land use interviews: Turnagain

• On-the-land Interviews: Turnagain

• Predator management (Jade Boulder Road, Klappan)

Some of this coverage resulted in videos profiling an initiative, others support greater projects or enter our multimedia archive and library as a record and resource for future use.

Along with coverage, we create multimedia for events, such as the Births and Passings videos for last year’s AGA, the first since the pandemic, and the tribute to honor our colleague, Jarett Quock, during his Celebration of Life.

Campaigns

We also produce multimedia for campaigns calling attention to issues affecting the Nation.

Last year’s work regarded declining wildlife populations. We created a Predator Management video featuring the winter work of Guardian Clements Brace, and a longer piece characterizing the problem, titled Tahltan Nation Taking a Stand on Wildlife Issues.

Taking a Stand on Wildlife Issues

Features

This past year, we began to explore longer, more intricate storytelling, weaving across generations and time, and revealing the layers on the land. This approach can grant our stories much more depth and power. Examples here include a long-form video profiling Tahtaneh (Tahltan Lake) and the egg-take, and a 10-day backpacking father and son debēhe hunt (coming soon).

TOOLS FOR TELLING OUR OWN STORIES

We maintain a professional camera kit and production standard, tweaking and building capacity as needed. This may look like waders, camera traps, or a bundle of knockoff camera batteries for shooting out on-theland for a week or so without electricity. It does not yet include tires that do not risk a flat on the way back from fish camp. We are always adapting, improving, and innovating TCG’s multimedia production kit.

A DOZEN HARD DRIVES

After capturing multimedia, we must manage it. In addition to the assets we produce, from photos and video clips to digitized old media, we assist other departments with media management, collecting and backing up drone and camera trap memory cards, phone photos, and all variety of media.

We also work on acquiring multimedia regarding Tahltan and Tahltan Territory. To date, we have collected materials in all sorts of media: archival articles and maps, books, brochures, cassette tapes, CDs, DVDs, Hi8, MiniDV, and VHS. We have worked from slides and negatives, photo albums, cabin walls, and phone feeds. We dig online and in used bookstores, university libraries, and casual conservation, asking where a photo came from, and where other similar photos might be found.

Once we have found materials, we take care of digitizing them, ensuring preservation of the original while creating digital copies. The next step is working with the Culture & Heritage Department’s Archives to enter each item into their catalogue. From there, the collected media will become searchable and shareable with the Tahltan Nation. Our goal is to ensure present and futures generations can access and learn from all these materials regarding their Nation and territory.

Our research, searching and collecting never stop. We welcome anything you would like to send along, from a book title to an old newspaper clipping (or photocopy) to a link.

We are happy to help members interested in sharing their personal photos and videos with the archive as well. We invite any members with Tahltan culture, events, family, music, and other moments of the Nation’s history captured on old media (e.g., slides, film, photos, cassettes, VHS, CDs, DV tapes, DVDs) to contact us. We can support digitization and very much hope to include this sort of thing–the Tahltan Nation as documented by Tahltans–in the archives. We are establishing protocols around permission, terms of use, and levels of access as well.

We also invite members with stories, histories, memories, culture, lifeways, or places they are interested in sharing to contact us. We are happy to co-create videos, photo essays or other creative projects together.

We need help describing all we are collecting too, especially naming people in old photos, films, and videos.

WHAT IS COMING?

The result of creating and collecting all this multimedia is that we want to return it, both via a digital library and in a synthesized way. We await your and our Leadership’s endorsement, but to this end, we have begun development of a book (or maybe two, a thin one and a fat one). The initial idea is a sort of overview, atlas, and guide, orienting one to the Tahltan Nation–its people and places, culture and governance, history and future – through sharing stories organized by where they happened in Tahltan Territory. For example, along with a few spectacular images of Edziza, you will find hints of ancient, historic, and modern stories from there, and learn where to find more.

Our major project at the time of writing is production of a Cultural Safety video, following years of development, research and interviews, and asset and footage collection. On the horizon we have debēhe videos (a hunt and a major collaring project), Elder Flights, a hodzih feature, and more.

Staff & Contacts

TCG Organizational Chart

TAHLTAN CENTRAL GOVERNMENT BOARD

FAMILY REPRESENTATIVES

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

PRESIDENT | VICE PRESIDENT | SECRETARY TREASURER

OPERATIONS

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

Carlick

Cawtoonma

Eth’eni

Etzenlee

Good-za-ma

Quock (Dekama)

Shoe Kawk/Howd-A-Ghtte (Shukak)

Simgaldtada (Ts’imgalteda)

Stikine Claw/Thicke

Thud ga

Elders Council

Complaints Committee

Finance Committee

Governance Committee

HR Committee

Youth Council

Administration

Communications & External Relations

Culture & Heritage

Dease Lake Community

Education & Training

Employment & Business

Finance Fisheries Lands

· THREAT (Tahltan Heritage Resources Environmental Assessment Team)

· Tahltan Stewardship Initiative (TSI)

Language

Membership & Geneology

Mulitmedia

Tourism

Wildlife

· Guardians

· Predator Technicians

Image captions

Page B Obsidian Boulder in the Spectrum Range, looking North to Mount Edziza

Page 15 Ashtyn Quock, Brian Quock, and Rick McLean

Page 18 The Ningunsaw River running along Highway 37

Page 28 Goats at rest above the Tahltan River .

Page 64 Guardian Clements Brace taking out THREAT researcher Benjamin Jones for a Land Use Study on the Turnagain region

Page 75 Caribou collaring around Tseneglode

Page 83 Caribou collaring

Page 88 Jordan Rattray releases a Chinook at Three Sisters Fish Camp

Page 114 Tahltan Youth assisting at the Tahltan Night gala

Page 132 The Spectrums

Page 136 Kailene Louie organizing at the Archives .

ANNUAL REPORT 2022/2023