For Public Release: Statement of Fort Nelson First Nation's Unity
Over the long course of Fort Nelson First Nation’s history we as a community have shown time after time to be a welcoming nation. Our ancestors signed Treaty 8, a Treaty of peace and sharing. Providing
members from throughout our region a place to call home, a community to call their own, and bringing them in as a part of our families. Our nation is rooted in unity and acceptance. We come to form our current home by bringing together our traditional villages of Nelson Forks, Francois, Deer River, Snake River, Kotcho, Fontas, Kahntah, Moose Lake and IR 1 and 2. Our Dene families have a called this territory home for hundreds of years and welcomed with open arms our Cree families. Our elders have a long history of welcoming adopted members from throughout BC, NWT, Alberta and currently, as far away as Ontario and everywhere in between.
Our nation has many things to be proud of. We continue to progress and advance our many departments to improve on the services to our people. Our nation has values, integrity, unity and respect for
our history based on inclusion, not exclusion. Over time our Nation’s values and unity has been challenged by a handful of members (who are our family, our friends and our neighbours). It is important to understand that these few have the same benefits and services that all our members can enjoy. FNFN will continue to include these members a part of our Nation, in our celebrations, programs and services and encourage them to be positive active community members. Our nation will not stand for: rhetoric, bullying tactics, intimidation, bribery and hearsay, in attempts to create division and discontent in our community. We will not condone praying on the vulnerable to create false support. We cannot let greed by a few stand in the way of our Nation’s progress and prosperity. This is our home and territory, as one Community we must stand together and continue to show that we will be welcoming yet stand up for our past elders’ and leaders’ decisions that made our home what it is today.
Fort Nelson First Nation will continue to be a unified nation today, tomorrow and for all future generations. For as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow; we will remain one Nation:
strong, healthy, proud, and self-reliant.
Chief and Council
members from throughout our region a place to call home, a community to call their own, and bringing them in as a part of our families. Our nation is rooted in unity and acceptance. We come to form our current home by bringing together our traditional villages of Nelson Forks, Francois, Deer River, Snake River, Kotcho, Fontas, Kahntah, Moose Lake and IR 1 and 2. Our Dene families have a called this territory home for hundreds of years and welcomed with open arms our Cree families. Our elders have a long history of welcoming adopted members from throughout BC, NWT, Alberta and currently, as far away as Ontario and everywhere in between.
Our nation has many things to be proud of. We continue to progress and advance our many departments to improve on the services to our people. Our nation has values, integrity, unity and respect for
our history based on inclusion, not exclusion. Over time our Nation’s values and unity has been challenged by a handful of members (who are our family, our friends and our neighbours). It is important to understand that these few have the same benefits and services that all our members can enjoy. FNFN will continue to include these members a part of our Nation, in our celebrations, programs and services and encourage them to be positive active community members. Our nation will not stand for: rhetoric, bullying tactics, intimidation, bribery and hearsay, in attempts to create division and discontent in our community. We will not condone praying on the vulnerable to create false support. We cannot let greed by a few stand in the way of our Nation’s progress and prosperity. This is our home and territory, as one Community we must stand together and continue to show that we will be welcoming yet stand up for our past elders’ and leaders’ decisions that made our home what it is today.
Fort Nelson First Nation will continue to be a unified nation today, tomorrow and for all future generations. For as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow; we will remain one Nation:
strong, healthy, proud, and self-reliant.
Chief and Council
Welcome to the website of the Fort Nelson First Nation!A Nation, A People - Strong, Healthy, Proud and Self-Reliant.
"We, the people of the Fort Nelson First Nation assert our aboriginal rights to ownership and jurisdiction in our territory and our rights are confirmed by The Royal Proclamation of 1763, The Constitution Act (1867), Treaty No. 8 of 1899, Sections 15, 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act (1982) and Articles 33 and 35 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples." 
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Attention Band Members We need your contact information for the First Nation Land Management Initiative:
Please contact Cynthia Burke with your information. She can be reached at 250.774.6313 or cynthia.burke@fnnation.ca. Click here to enter your information online. Need to call us?
T: 250.774.7257 TF: 1.888.543.3636 
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30-12pm and 1-4:30pm. We are closed during lunch and all statutory holidays. 
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Photo property of Fort Nelson First Nation.
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Our people held title by aboriginal right to specific territories with this region. The Crown recognized the territorial and jurisdictional rights of our people within the boundaries of Treaty No. 8, as demonstrated by the Crown entering into treaty with the Fort Nelson Slavey on August 15, 1910, in the form of an adhesion to Treaty No. 8, signed on the banks of the Fort Nelson River at the Old Fort Nelson. We, the people of the Fort Nelson First Nation assert our aboriginal rights to ownership and jurisdiction in our territory and our rights are confirmed by The Royal Proclamation of 1763, The Constitution Act (1867), Treaty No. 8 of 1899, Sections 15, 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act (1982) and Articles 33 and 35 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of indigenous Peoples. We have rights and privileges under the provisions of said Treaty including, amongst others, access to and benefit of the resources within our traditional territory of said Treaty “for as long as the sun shines, the grass grows and the rivers flow”. ~ Excerpt from the Fort Nelson First Nation Membership Code |
