Tribal council

A tribal council is an association of First Nations bands in Canada, generally along regional, ethnic or linguistic lines.^[1]

An Indian band, usually consisting of one main community, is the fundamental unit of government for First Nations in Canada. Bands may unite to form a tribal council, but they need not do so. Bands that do not belong to a tribal council are said to be independent. Bands may and do withdraw from tribal councils. Furthermore, the authority that bands delegate to their tribal council varies, with some tribal councils serving as a strong, central organization while others are granted limited power by their members.

Nunavut and Newfoundland and Labrador do not have any tribal councils.^[2]

Tribal councils in Canada

Alberta

As of 2019^[update], Alberta has ten tribal councils:^[3]

Athabasca Tribal Council — Athabasca Chipewyan, Chipewyan Prairie, Fort McKay, and Fort McMurray #468
Blackfoot Confederacy — Blood (aka Kainai), Piikani, and Siksika
Kee Tas Kee Now Tribal Council — Loon River Cree, Lubicon Lake, Peerless Trout, Whitefish Lake, and Woodland Cree
Lesser Slave Lake Indian Regional Council — Driftpile Cree, Kapawe'no, Sawridge, Sucker Creek, and Swan River
Maskwacis Cree Tribal Council — Ermineskin Tribe, Louis Bull, Montana, and Samson
North Peace Tribal Council — Beaver, Dene Tha', Little Red River Cree, and Tallcree Tribal Government
Stoney-Nakoda - Tsuut'ina Tribal Council — Chiniki and Tsuut'ina Nation
Tribal Chiefs Ventures — Beaver Lake Cree, Cold Lake, Frog Lake, Heart Lake, and Kehewin Cree
Western Cree Tribal Council — Duncan's, Horse Lake, and Sturgeon Lake Cree
Yellowhead Tribal Council — Alexander, Alexis Nakota Sioux, O'Chiese, and Sunchild

British Columbia

Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (aka Cariboo Tribal Council)
Carrier Chilcotin Tribal Council
Carrier Sekani Tribal Council
Kaska Tribal Council
Kwakiutl District Council
Lillooet Tribal Council (aka St'at'imc Nation, but does not include all St'at'imc)
Lower Stl'atl'imx Tribal Council (formerly In-SHUCK-ch)^[4] — Douglas, Lil'wat, N'Quatqua, Samahquam, and Skatin^[3]
Musgamagw Tsawataineuk Tribal Council
Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council
Nicola Tribal Association — Nlaka'pamux and Okanagan
Nisga'a Tribal Council
Nlaka'pamux Nation Tribal Council (does not include all Nlaka'pamux)
Northern Shuswap Tribal Council
Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council
Office of the Wet'suwet'en
Okanagan Nation Alliance (includes Colville Reservation in US)
Shuswap Nation Tribal Council
Sto:lo Nation
Stó:lō Tribal Council
Tsilhqot'in National Government
Treaty 8 Tribal Association (northeastern BC)

Defunct

Manitoba

As of 2021^[update], Manitoba has seven tribal councils:^[3]^[5]

Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council — Birdtail Sioux, Dakota Tipi, Long Plain, Roseau River Anishnabe, Sandy Bay Ojibway, Swan Lake, and Waywayseecappo
Interlake Reserves Tribal Council — Dauphin River, Kinonjeoshtegon, Lake Manitoba, Little Saskatchewan, Peguis, and Pinaymootang
Island Lake Tribal Council — Garden Hill, Red Sucker, St. Theresa Point, and Wasagamack
Keewatin Tribal Council — Barren Lands, Bunibonibee Cree, Fox Lake Cree, God's Lake, Manto Sipi Cree, Northlands Denesuline, Sayisi Dene, Shamattawa, Tataskweyak Cree, War Lake, and York Factory
Southeast Resource Development Council — Berens River, Black River, Bloodvein, Brokenhead, Hollow Water, Little Grand Rapids, Pauingassi, and Poplar River (and formerly Buffalo Point)
Swampy Cree Tribal Council — Chemawawin Cree, Mathias Colomb, Misipawistik Cree, Mosakahiken Cree, Opaskwayak Cree, Sapotaweyak Cree, and Wuskwi Sipihk
West Region Tribal Council — Ebb and Flow, Gambler, Keeseekoowenin, O-Chi-Chak-Ko-Sipi, Pine Creek, Rolling River, Skownan, and Tootinaowaziibeeng Treaty Reserve

Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKO), though not a tribal council, represents citizens of 26 First Nations who are signatories to Treaties 4, 5, 6, and 10.^[6]

Northwest Territories

As of 2019^[update], the Northwest Territories has five tribal councils:^[3]

Akaitcho Territory Government — Deninu Kųę́, Łutsël K'é Dene, Salt River, and Yellowknives Dene
Dehcho First Nations — Acho Dene Koe, Deh Gáh Got'ı̨ę, Jean Marie River, K'atlodeeche, Ka'a'gee Tu, Łı́ı́dlı̨ı̨ Kų́ę́, Nahanni Butte, Pehdzeh Ki, Sambaa K'e, and West Point
Gwich'in Tribal Council — Aklavik, Gwichya Gwich'in, Inuvik Native, and Teetl'it Gwich'in Band Council
Sahtu Dene Council — Behdzi Ahda', Délı̨nę, Fort Good Hope, and Tulita Dene
Tetlit Gwich'in Council DGO

Atlantic Canada

As of 2019^[update], Atlantic Canada has a collective total of nine tribal councils, with Newfoundland and Labrador having no tribal councils at all.^[7]