In a historic ceremony filled with drumming, traditional songs, and a feast that fed nearly 800 people, the Heiltsuk Nation has formally ratified its first written constitution—a watershed moment that leaders say honors ancient governance while positioning the First Nation for a stronger self-governed future.
The ratification feast, held in Bella Bella on British Columbia’s central coast last weekend, formalized what Heiltsuk leadership describes as a “bridge between ancient ways and modern governance needs.” The document codifies governance principles that have existed in oral tradition for thousands of years.
“This isn’t creating something new—it’s putting into writing what our ancestors have always known and practiced,” explained Heiltsuk Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett, speaking from the community hall where hereditary chiefs, elected officials, and community members gathered to witness the occasion. “Our constitution reflects Ǧvi̓ḷás—our laws and authority that have governed these territories since time immemorial.”
The written constitution comes after five years of community consultation involving elders, youth councils, and family heads. What makes the Heiltsuk approach distinct is how deeply it roots modern governance in pre-colonial practices while addressing contemporary challenges like resource management, housing, and relations with the Canadian government.
Hereditary Chief Harvey Humchitt, who helped lead the constitutional development process, pointed to specific provisions that protect traditional decision-making structures. “Our constitution recognizes both hereditary and elected leadership roles, ensuring our governance reflects who we truly are as Heiltsuk people,” he said during the ceremony.
The document addresses practical matters like citizenship, land stewardship, economic development, and dispute resolution, but does so through a Heiltsuk worldview rather than simply mirroring Western legal frameworks.
Legal scholar Val Napoleon from the University of Victoria, who observed the process but wasn’t directly involved, noted the significance of the approach. “What we’re seeing is Indigenous legal orders being expressed in written form without losing their essential character,” Napoleon said. “This isn’t merely adopting Canadian constitutional models—it’s expressing Heiltsuk law in a way that can function in today’s complex governance landscape.”
The constitution includes provisions for managing the Nation’s relationship with the Crown while maintaining that the Heiltsuk never surrendered their sovereignty. It establishes guidelines for consultation regarding resource development within traditional territories that extend across roughly 35,000 square kilometers of land and sea on the central coast.
The timing is particularly significant as the Heiltsuk continue implementing their 2018 reconciliation protocol agreement with the provincial government, which recognized aspects of Heiltsuk governance authority. The new constitution creates clearer structures for exercising those recognized rights.
Younger community members played a crucial role in the drafting process. Twenty-six-year-old Hemas (Sara) Brown served on the youth advisory committee that reviewed constitutional drafts. “Our generation understands we need both our traditional knowledge and modern tools to protect our future,” Brown explained as children played near the feast tables. “This constitution gives us both.”
The document addresses practical economic concerns as well. With unemployment hovering around 40 percent in Bella Bella, the constitution establishes principles for sustainable economic development that must balance job creation with environmental stewardship and cultural values.
Frank Brown, a hereditary leader who directs the Indigenous Leadership Initiative, says the constitution creates accountability mechanisms that will strengthen the Nation’s position in negotiations with governments and industry. “When companies want to operate in our territories, they’ll now have a clear understanding of our decision-making processes and values,” he explained.
B.C. Minister of Indigenous Relations Murray Rankin attended the ratification feast, calling it “a powerful expression of Indigenous self-determination that the province respects and supports.” Federal representatives were notably absent, though Indigenous Services Canada sent a written statement recognizing the Heiltsuk achievement.
The constitution includes dispute resolution processes based on traditional practices rather than adversarial court systems. These incorporate ceremonial elements alongside practical problem-solving approaches that have been used within the community for generations.
Climate change adaptation figures prominently in the document as well. With rising sea levels threatening coastal areas and changing ocean temperatures affecting traditional food sources, the constitution mandates climate-resilient planning in all major decisions.
“Our people have survived here for over 14,000 years by adapting while staying true to our values,” said elder Pauline Waterfall, who helped draft language around environmental responsibilities. “This constitution continues that tradition.”
As the day-long ceremony concluded with songs from the Heiltsuk women’s drum group, Chief Slett emphasized that ratification marks a beginning, not an end. “Now comes the real work of living our constitution every day, teaching it to our children, and using it to build the future our ancestors envisioned,” she said as the last of the traditional foods were being shared.
The Heiltsuk constitutional process is being closely watched by other First Nations considering similar frameworks. While over 40 Indigenous nations in Canada have developed written constitutions, the Heiltsuk approach is notable for its deep integration of traditional governance with contemporary needs.
With the feast complete and the constitution now in force, the community faces the challenge of implementation in daily governance—a process that leadership says will unfold over generations, not merely years.
