The Kátł’odeeche First Nation (KFN) is working to develop a Kátł’odeeche First Nation Land Code under the Framework Agreement on First Nations Land Management. This will enable KFN to gain control over the governance of our on-Reserve lands and resources, which are currently governed by Canada under the Indian Act.
Who is working on this project?
KFN has hired one of our own members, Victoria St Jean, to be the Land Code Coordinator for the interim and to get things started. Victoria holds a Tourism and Hospitality Management Diploma from Grand Prairie Regional College and had worked as a KFN Lands Manager from 2003 to 2013 before moving away to further her education. She believes that “having our own land code will empower KFN Band members to have a say in how we govern the Reserve lands and resources.
What is a Land Code?
A KFN Land Code will become the basic land law of the Kátł’odeeche First Nation for its Reserve lands and will replace the land management provisions of the Indian Act, removing KFN from approx. 25% of the Indian Act. Under the Land Code, KFN will have full governance authority over Reserve lands, which will allow for more timely and effective land management decisions to be made locally, rather than through government officials in Yellowknife or Ottawa.
What is the Timeline?
The drafting of a Kátł’odeeche First Nation Land Code is a two-year process with a Community Vote taking place in late 2019 or early2020.
What is the Land Code Development Process?
There are 6 phases in the development of the Land Code Process, we are currently in Phase 1 of the Land Code Development.
Phase 1: Getting Started (Hire a Land Code Coordinator, Establish a Land Code Development Committee)
Phase 2: Background and Planning (Background Research, Creating the Land Code Process Timeline)
Phase 3: Land Code Drafting (Development of draft KFN Land Code for membership to review and input)
Phase 4: Community Review and Priorities (Membership on and off reserve review and input of Draft KFN Land Code)
Phase 5: Community Vote (Community Vote in accordance with the approved Community Ratification Plan process)
Phase 6: Land Code implementation (Occurs once the ratification Land Code is certified and the Individual Agreement is signed).
What’s Next?
You can participate in the development of the Land Code by joining the Land Code Development Committee or by participating in community meetings on the Code. A call for Committee members will take place soon, so watch for the invitation to join!
If you have any questions or require more information, please contact Victoria St Jean @
(867) 874-6701 or email
kfnlands@katlodeeche.com