Tahltan Organizations

The Tahltan Nation comprises the Iskut Band and Tahltan Band, which govern Tahltan interests with respect to the Indian Act, in the communities of Iskut, Dease Lake and Telegraph Creek. The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) is the administrative governing body representing the Tahltan Nation with respect to the inherent and collective Aboriginal title and rights shared by all Tahltan people. 

Tahltan Central Government

The Tahltan Central Government (TCG) represents approximately 5,000 members of the Tahltan Nation living on- and off-reserve. The purpose of the TCG is, among other things, to define and protect Tahltan inherent aboriginal rights and title, to protect the eco-systems and natural resources of Tahltan traditional territory through pursuing sustainable economic development, and to strengthen the cultural wellness of the Tahltan Community by promoting traditional values based on the concepts of caring, sharing, cooperation, truth, honour, fairness and above all, respect. The TCG is responsible for the ecosystem and natural resources of Tahltan Territory, managing sustainable economic development, and strengthening the cultural wellness of the Tahltan Nation. It also manages engagement communications to membership.

The board of the TCG is comprised of one representative from each of the ten Tahltan families; the executive consists of a President, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer. The executive is elected, for two year terms, at the annual general assembly (AGA) held each summer; the family representatives are nominated by the families each year and elected/ratified at the AGA.

The guiding principle of the Tahltan Central Government remains the Declaration of the Tahltan Tribe. In 1910, as part of a growing movement to assert First Nations rights on the coast and the southern interior of BC, the chief of the Tahltan Nation, Chief Nanok along with 80 other members of the tribe signed the declaration. The document claims sovereignty over Tahltan land and declares any land interests concerning the traditional territory of the Tahltan Nation to be settled directly with the Tahltan people. It represents a legal declaration of rights of Tahltan individuals to the Canadian government and British monarch. Tahltans have yet to extinguish their Aboriginal title by any other legal process. Learn more.

Tahltan Band

The Tahltan Band (based at Telegraph Creek), with members in Telegraph Creek and Dease Lake, has an elected band council. Learn more.

Iskut Band

The Iskut Band (based at Iskut), with members in Iskut and Dease Lake, has an elected band council. Learn more.