Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it | Declaration Work

Advancing Self-Governance on Their Own Terms

With support from the Declaration Act Engagement Fund (DAEF), Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it First Nation is building the foundations of self-governance in a way that reflects their values, priorities, and vision for the future. This work isn’t about following external timelines—it’s about leading with purpose.

What’s Happening in Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it

The Nation is using DAEF funding to build internal capacity for engagement with the Province of British Columbia on laws and policies that affect their people and lands. This includes creating space for meaningful internal conversations, leadership planning, and advancing self-determined governance grounded in community input.

Rather than adapting to outside frameworks, Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it is setting their own path—one rooted in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and guided by the Nation’s own knowledge systems.

As shared in the video, “This is about more than engagement—it’s about taking ownership of our future.”

Why It Matters for BC First Nations

Across the province, BC First Nations are leading conversations about what self-determination looks like in practice. The Declaration Act Engagement Fund supports this by offering flexible, Nation-led funding that empowers communities to shape their own governance, at their own pace.

For Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi’it, that means reclaiming control over decision-making processes and building a governance structure that will last generations.

About the Declaration Act Engagement Fund (DAEF)

The DAEF supports First Nations in BC in engaging with the Province of British Columbia to align laws and policies with the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. The fund provides flexible support for planning, policy development, leadership engagement, and governance-building.