The Governance Consensus
From 2019 to 2021, the Kwantlen people spoke.
A desire for change
“Although there is clearly member feedback on both ends of the spectrum, on review and in consideration to balance all information provided to date in the various formats described above, the feedback received confirms a desire to change the current full hereditary custom governance model in place.”
Dan George, Four Directions Management. May 27, 2021 Report to the Kwantlen People.
Third-Party Consultations
In order to ensure the neutrality of the process, Kwantlen’s governance reform consultations were mediated by 2 different third parties — DGW Law, and Four Directions Management. Consultations began in 2019, and continued over 3 years, into 2021, when they concluded with a final report produced by Four Directions Management, which showed that more than 70% of Kwantlen people want democracy.
On November 27, 2022, 18-months to the day after Four Directions Management produced its consensus report, the Kwantlen people met at a General Assembly to demand the new code be brought to a vote.
Our New Governance Code
Following the November 27th General Assembly, the new Kwantlen Council tasked 2 of Canada’s leading experts on Indigenous Governance to take the Four Directions consensus and create a new Custom Governance Code. This was completed and is available for public comment until December 23rd.