Welcome to the Gitksan Government Commission Website (GGC).

The Gitksan Government Commission (GGC) includes three First Nation/Band Councils, Gitanyow, Gitanmaax, Glen Vowell who are mainly funded by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)

. GGC is a not-for-profit society structured to provide administrative support, technical and advisory services to the local Band administration and Councils. Our services include assistance with budgeting, program delivery, meeting financial and reporting requirements and working together to create a better life in the Gitksan communities.

Our services are similar to a regional district office and working in collaboration with the three Bands, work on a number of priority issues, such as

  • protecting and promoting existing benefits and programs,
  • maximizing existing jurisdictional arrangements and
  • working towards stronger and more effective community-based services in each community and within the larger Upper Skeena Region.

The Gitksan Government Commission (GGC) was first incorporated as a not-for-profit society and registered in 1986.

GGC is governed by a Board of Directors representative of the elected body from each of the member Bands. The three member Bands are Gitanyow, Gitanmaax, and Glen Vowell. As a group, the members of GGC are of the larger Gitksan Nation, and consists of two main dialects, Gitxsenimx (west) and Gitxsanimax (east). These communities are located in the central northwest of British Columbia along the Skeena, Kispiox and Kitwanga Rivers.

As a group, the members of the Gitksan Government Commission total a population of 3857 registered Band members. Most of our community members are young with the majority of the population under 30.  Each of the three communities are unique and have different needs and priorities for community well being. Check out each Band’s website for more information and see the local statistics page under Membership.

Photo by Jeff Holland

Photo by Jeff Holland

What do we do?

The three-member Bands have agreed to work collectively to secure a multi-year funding agreement with Indigenous Services Canada(ISC) . This agreement is called an ‘C7A CFA’ and provides the funding to GGC who acts as a flow through to each member band. Through this agreement GGC is responsible for providing technical,advisory and support services to the member Bands. One of the key benefits to a block funded agreement allows for the development of specific policy that is more beneficial and relevant than ISC policy. So far there are three areas that have specific policies: Education, Housing, and Social Development. With good fiscal management and effective administration we have been able to continue with a block funded approach creates a more responsive and flexible administrative structure at the Band office level.

Where are we located?

The Gitksan communities are in the beautiful Kitwanga, Kispiox and Skeena watersheds. For more information about the Skeena watersheds, contact Gitksan Watershed Authority at https://gitksanwatershed.com/. For more information regarding the Gitksan Hereditary system or House system, and treaty negotiations contact the Gitksan Treaty Society at https://gitxsan.ca.

Coast Mountain College (CMC) provides a good map of all the First Nations from a northwest regional view. The map shown highlights the Hazelton area from the CMC regional map.

Another map that highlights the language affiliation of indigenous people in BC is available at First People’s Heritage, Language and Cultural Center’s website.

Our Vision

“Working together to create healthy, sustainable and prosperous communities.”

Our History

The Gitksan people supported the development of the GGC, with the devolution of Indian Affairs Regional Offices, GGC would enable the Gitksan Carrier Tribal Council to concentrate on the land claims title action of Delgamuwx to ensure support and services continued with the member Bands.

Visit our Gitksan Band Websites

Gitanyow

Gitanyow Band

Gitanmaax

Gitanmaax Band

Glen Vowell

Sik-e-dakh Band