SFN Trust

“BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE – TOGETHER”
UPDATE ON CREATING A SELKIRK FIRST NATION TRUST

This update provides Selkirk First Nation (SFN) citizens with information on the resolution passed by the 2010 SFN General Assembly to create a trust or trusts for the collective benefit of the First Nation. It also provides information on what SFN is currently doing in order to follow through on that resolution and how SFN citizens will be engaged in the upcoming months. This update was submitted by the SFN Finance Committee in February 2011.

Who decided to create a SFN trust?
In November 2010, the SFN General Assembly passed a resolution to create a trust or trusts for the benefit of the Selkirk people. This resolution also directed SFN’s Finance Committee to consult with all Selkirk citizens on the objectives and goals for a trust. Based on the results of these consultations, the SFN Finance Committee will work with advisors and legal counsel in order to bring a proposal to a future SFN Assembly for ratification.

Why did the General Assembly decide to create a trust?
The SFN Constitution states that the Selkirk people want to build a strong and sustainable First Nation for today and for the generations to come. This vision will be achieved through ensuring SFN citizens and families are healthy and prosperous, preserving a strong Northern Tutchone culture, creating a productive and sustainable economy, maintaining fair and stable SFN governing institutions, building a vibrant community at Pelly Crossing and protecting SFN lands and heritage resources.

It is recognized that in order to achieve its long-term goals, SFN needs a plan. It is also recognized that if SFN does not put a plan in place to protect and invest the resources and assets from its Compensation Payments under the Final Agreement, as well as its Mining Royalty Payments, the identity, language, culture, rights and lands of the Selkirk people could be at risk in the future.

For many years, SFN’s leadership and citizens have talked about the creation of a trust as a part of its plan for self-sufficiency. Across Canada, trusts are used by First Nations for a variety of purposes, including protecting a community’s assets from political interference, making strategic investments on behalf of a community, creating supports in specific sectors (i.e., education, housing, heritage preservation, cultural development, etc.), ensuring a secure base of funding to support a community’s future for generations to come, etc. Notably, many First Nations in the Yukon have already created trusts for the benefit of their communities (i.e., Vuntut Gwitchin, Na-Cho Nyak Dun, etc.). As well, other Aboriginal communities across Canada have over $20 billion held in trusts for the benefit of their communities. Similar to what other First Nation governments have done, SFN wants to use a trust to protect and improve the collective future of the Selkirk people.

What is the SFN Finance Committee and why is it overseeing the process?
The SFN Finance Committee was established by the 2009 SFN General Assembly in order to provide independent oversight and advice to SFN on financial matters, as well as report back to SFN Assemblies on the financial management and administration of SFN. The Committee currently includes the following SFN citizens: Nyla Klugie, Lori Sims, Marlene Drapeau, Michelle Kolla, Bill Trerice and Bonnie Roberts.

Consistent with the SFN Finance Committee’s original mandate, the 2010 General Assembly directed the Committee to develop and oversee a SFN trust consultation process and bring a proposal for a SFN trust or trusts back to the SFN Assembly for ratification.

What is SFN Finance Committee doing in order to implement the Assembly’s Resolution?
Based on the direction from the SFN General Assembly, the SFN Finance Committee has been working with Chief and Council, as well as advisors and legal counsel, in order to learn more about First Nation trusts and to develop a meaningful consultation process that will engage all of the Selkirk people.

It is anticipated that the community consultation process on the SFN trust will begin in March 2011 and will continue for several months. Workshops will be held in Pelly Crossing, Whitehorse and Vancouver. All SFN citizens, including Elders and youth, are encouraged to participate in order to make these consultations a success.

As well, in the next few months, a mail-out will be sent to all SFN citizens and a website will be set up for SFN citizens to access information and provide input.

How can I help and get involved?
The SFN Finance Committee encourages as many SFN citizens as possible to come out and attend the upcoming consultations. Information about the dates and locations for the upcoming consultation workshops will be provided in March 2011.

In order to ensure you receive future updates and mail-outs, SFN members are encouraged to contact the SFN Administration Office to update your mailing address, as well as provide your email address for future communications.

If you have questions or input for the SFN Finance Committee, you can contact Sharon Nelson, who is providing ongoing staff support to this process. Sharon can be reached at (867) 537-3331 or via email at nelsonsg@selkirkfn.com

RESOLUTION ON CREATING A SELKIRK FIRST NATION TRUST OR TRUSTS

WHEREAS the future of the Selkirk First Nation (SFN) is dependent on building a strong, sustainable and prosperous government for the 21st century that protects the Nation’s culture, rights, lands and traditions;

AND WHEREAS SFN has received compensation and royalty payments that are to be used to build and sustain a stronger Selkirk People and Nation for generations to come;

AND WHEREAS SFN wants to protect and ensure that compensation and royalty payments that are received are used to support Selkirk citizens, build a stronger community and create a sustainable future for SFN;

AND WHEREAS based on its ongoing work the SFN Finance Committee recommends that the SFN create an arms-length SFN trust or trusts that are professionally managed in order to protect and strategically invest the compensation and royalty payments received;

AND WHEREAS the 2010 SFN Annual General Assembly agrees with this recommendation and wants to ensure compensation and royalty payments are strategically invested and protected for generations to come;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That pursuant to s. 7.6.5 of the SFN Constitution the SFN Assembly directs that a trust or trusts be established for the benefit of the Selkirk People with the SFN’s compensation and royalty payments;
That the Finance Committee be directed to consult with SFN members on the objectives and goals of the trust or trusts and potential structures/compositions as well as work with advisors and legal counsel in order to create an appropriate trust instrument for the benefit of the Selkirk People;
That based on these consultations with SFN members and work with advisors and legal counsel, a proposal for the creation or a trust or trusts be brought back to a SFN Special Assembly or Annual General Assembly for ratification; 4. Until such time as a SFN trust or trusts for the benefit of the Selkirk People are established that funding from compensation and royalties not be spent unless previously authorized by the SFN Assembly or authorized by a future SFN Assembly.

Moved by: Daryl Fulton
Seconded by: Dorothy Mitander-Graham

Resolution Carried