Home    Search     Resources & Links    Project Team    Contact     Feedback    Site Map    Sponsors    Help
Governance

Governance Structure:

For a term of three years members of the York Factory First Nation elect their chief under Band Custom. The Chief elected receives his/her direction from the membership through organized meetings of the membership whenever it is required. The Chief is the highest position in the community and is the final authority on any community decisions and matters.

As the same as the Chief, council members are elected for a three year term. Their responsibilities require them to deal with matters in the best interests of the membership and community, and also to assist the Chief in the day to day issues relevant to the community. A Band Manger is hired to help run the community in an orderly fashion and to deliver the programs and services to it's members. The Band Manager oversees the administration of it's services, programs, and staff. Other support staff is put into place to help coordinate the various programs and services needed by the community.

Committees are set up to make suggestions on a variety of issues and matters that need to be dealt with by Council. Elders are commonly used to help make decisions on some urgent matters that impact on the community.

Band Funding Arrangements:

Multi-year Alternative Arrangements are in place with the Department of Indian Affairs. This includes Social Services, Education, Capital Housing, Administration, Infrastructure and other public services. Funding is distributed on a monthly basis.

Health and Welfare (First Nation and Inuit Health Services) fund all health programs on a quarterly reimbursement basis.

By-Laws Process:

Under Section 85.1 of the Indian Act, Chief and Council can enact by-laws to govern the Reserve. On January 23, 1995, the York Factory Intoxicants By-Law No. 1195-01 was passed, to prohibit the sale, distribution and possession of any intoxicants on the York Landing Reserve.

Electoral Process:

Election of Chief and Council are done under Band Custom. Procedures and guidelines were developed and adopted by the Band to be used for electoral purposes. Every three years Chief and Council elections are held. An Elections Officer, with the help of an assistant, monitors the poll and verifies the ballots on Election Day.

Lands Management:

Chief and Council are responsible for dealing with any issues with regards to Lands. The York Factory Resources Management Committee was established to deal with issues arising out at the First Nation Resource Area at York Factory and the Community trapline at York Landing.

Membership and Estates:

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada controls the membership and estates of the community. A part time membership secretary is funded for recording purposes.

Natural Resources:

York Landing has no control of natural resources surrounding the community of York Landing as the Community is located within the Split Lake Resource Area. A community trapline is available on loan from the Split Lake First Nation.

Justice:

There is no program to deal with Justice in the community. The community funds four Band Constables to enforce any by-laws it has and to maintain peace and order in the community. Any major violations of the law are dealt with by the RCMP and the court systems at Thompson.

Future Community Governance:

The York Factory First Nation will embark on a process to review and revise existing systems of governance, which will include the design and implementation of the following:

1. Constitution
2. Financial Management Act
3. Human Resource Act
4. Leadership Selection Code
5. Citizenship Code
6. Lands and Resources
7. Operating and Maintenance of Community and Capital Assets
8. Council Governance

Under social reform, the York Factory First Nation will explore and determine one intervention and support model to offer to their membership utilizing all programs and services and human resources personnel within the community.

The model will include the following:

1. The Re-orientation all programs and services toward the development assets of the child and the family environment.
2. Focus on the development needs of the child from pre and post natal to adulthood.

Cultural Restoration as a means of fostering positive identity and language preservation and will focus on the wisdom and knowledge of the Elders which are broken down into the following:

1. Language Preservation
2. Cultural Knowledge Preservation
3. Traditional Ecological Knowledge Preservation
4. Historical Record

A key component to York Factory First Nation's Community Development Plan is Capacity Development. This encompasses the following:

1. Awareness
2. Attitudes
3. Skill Development
4. Knowledge Development

The Leadership believes that their people now and in the future, must acquire the attitudes, knowledge and skills required to affect long term benefits as a result of the on-going community development processes, which will be implemented.


The foregoing captures, conceptually, the direction of the York Factory First Nation in the immediate future. The leadership understands that time and continued effort will determine the evolution of their community development model to it's final outcome, the recognition that their children are sacred gifts from the creator will remain at the forefront and guide them in achieving a future of prosperity, security and well being. The Community Development Model is captured below.

Back to top of page