A Message from Chief Janet: Update to Members, Fall 2026
Dear Members,
These past few months have been busy ones, and I want to tell you, in plain words, what Council and I have been working on for you. If you have questions, please call me or come see me at the office. I’m usually in by 6:45 in the morning, unless I’m away at meetings for my work as Chief.
Our Indian Reserve No. 14 (IR No. 14) Settlement
Canada has accepted our claim that part of Indian Reserve No. 14 was wrongly taken from us, and has paid $3,725,822 to settle it. This is an important step for our Nation.
On June 25, we held a meeting with our lawyer and our Electoral Officer so you could hear about the settlement and ask your questions.
You voted in July, and the vote passed. The first payment of $5,000 per member went out that same month.
The second payment, about $5,000 per member, is planned for 2027-28, and we are already planning for it in our budget.
Running Our Nation Well
We welcomed Adele Gooding as our General Manager on June 22.
We brought our rules up to date, including our Governance Policy, Employee Handbook, Social Media Policy and Housing Criteria.
We are putting a new rule in place so that forestry and the other businesses that carry our Nation’s name report to Council regularly. These businesses belong to all of us, and you deserve to know how they are doing.
Our staff now meet every week, so every department knows what the others are doing and we can all work together to serve you better.
Newsletters go out to our Members bi-weekly or monthly
Our Money and Our Books
Our audits fell behind in past years, and I won’t pretend otherwise. Our auditors, MNP LLP, are working on more than one year at once so we can catch up. The 2022-23 audit will be finished this November, and the 2023-24 audit is being done at the same time.
Our Finance Committee now meets every month (the Finance Committee Meeting, or FCM) to go over all of our financial matters.
Next, we want to get our Finance Council Meeting going, so Council can sit down together on a regular schedule to review our finances and make decisions.
We are moving to a new accounting system called Xyntax. It will give us clearer reports, sooner, so we can share them with you.
On September 22, I went to the First Nations Financial Management Board (FMB) conference, “Unlocking the Value of FMS” (Financial Management System), at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport. I came home with a clear message: when we manage our money well, doors open for our Nation, like better funding and financing.
Asking for Fair Funding
Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), formerly known as Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC), does not give us enough to cover what our programs really cost. We showed them the real numbers and asked for more in our next 10-year funding agreement.
We asked ISC to pay their fair share toward our new Child and Family Services (CFS), Community and Administration Building.
We asked ISC for money to count and list all of our vehicles and equipment. In October we heard back: it was approved through ISC’s Professional and Institutional Development (P&ID) funding.
We also got approval to build our own app for Cheslatta Carrier Nation (CCN) members, so you can keep up with everything that is happening, wherever you live.
Housing
New homes are being built for members, and other homes are being fixed up. Brenda Thomas, our Housing Manager, is working with the Housing Committee on our Housing Policy and Procedures.
Our Land and Water
Berg Copper mine: the Province and Canada are reviewing a new copper mine proposed in our area. Council and I told them Cheslatta wants a say, and asked them to cover our costs to review it. Taking part does not mean we agree to the mine. Our comments are due Monday, November 16, and Council will decide by Friday, December 4 how fully we take part.
Mineral claims: in September, the Province told us that 14 mineral claims were approved in our territory. These claims do not allow any digging, and any future work has to come back to us first.
Rio Tinto: I went to the Ne Too meetings with Rio Tinto in Montreal. We sat at the same table, spoke openly and really listened to each other about our land and water. When I got home, I wrote to thank them. I believe honest relationships, built over time, are the way forward.
Planning for the Future
Coastal GasLink: Council decided that our share in the Coastal GasLink partnership should be held by the Nation directly, so the money comes straight to the Nation.
Our Community Trust
Our Community Trust keeps growing and supporting our Nation. As of November 2, 2026, the Main Trust was worth about $135.8 million, and its investments have earned about $36.4 million in added value since it began in 2019.
About $9.6 million has also been paid, or is payable, to the Nation through Annual Returns to support our programs and services. The Minors’ Account also continues to make payments to eligible youth when they turn 19.
The Trust also chose a new investment manager after a competitive process, so our money is well cared for, for our children and grandchildren.
Caring for Our Members
Christmas parties: this year we added Christmas parties for our members living in Alberta, Prince George, Vancouver and Southside. We want every member to feel part of the celebration, no matter where they live.
We increased the summer fund distribution and the coming Christmas bonus. We know the cost of living keeps going up, and we want to help.
Members living off-reserve each received $150.00 for Thanksgiving.
Elders’ Trip: we raised money for the trip through bingo and other fundraising, and each Elder received $500.00 in spending money. Thank you to everyone who came out and helped.
Health and Wellness
In October, I visited the new Tachick Lake Healing Centre near Vanderhoof. It is a detox and treatment centre that opens soon, and having this kind of help so close to home will make a real difference for our families.
I also sit on the Board of Directors of Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS), which runs the Tachick Lake Healing Centre and its detox program. That gives Cheslatta a voice in how these services are run for our people.
I also had the chance to visit the new Saik’uz Health Centre, which opens soon.
Councillor Hazel Burt represents Cheslatta Carrier Nation on the Southbank Health Centre Board.
In Closing
I know these months have been hard for our Nation. Many of you have strong feelings, and I hear you. It shows how much you care about Cheslatta.
Council and I will keep being open with you about our work and our money. That is why our Finance Committee now meets, FCM, every month, why we are catching up on our audits, and why we are building an app, so you can always know what is going on.
We do not always agree, but we are all Cheslatta. When we work together, our Nation is strong. That is what our children and grandchildren need from us.
Thank you to our staff for all their hard work, and thank you to each of you for your patience and for speaking up. Please come by the office with your questions and ideas. My door is always open.
Respectfully,
Chief Janet Whitford
Cheslatta Carrier Nation