Citizenship and Enrolment
“The Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ…declare our unique identity as a Nation and claim our rightful place in Canadian society. We have, thoughout time, functioned on and abided by and internal order based on our Ha’wiih and our Hahoulthee. We have existed from time immemorial and have occupied and used the lands, waters and resources of our traditional territory…throughout history. We draw our identity from our relationship to our lands and from our rich heritage, culture, language and our stories, myths and oral traditions. We honour our ancestors and our elders and commit ourselves to the values that they preserved for us, values that provide us dignity and enhance our humanity. As self-determining peoples, we accept the responsibilities inherent in governing ourselves and seek, with assistance of Naas…to govern with wisdom and respect for all people. Through the act of governing, we assume the power to preserve our natural world and enhance our identity.”
(Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Constitution, Preamble)
Citizenship
An individual is a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizen if that individual is a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ enrollee.
An individual is entitled to become a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizen if that individual
- Was on the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ band list as of the day immediately preceeding the Maa-nulth Treaty effective date,
- Has been adopted as a child by a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizen under Canadian law, the Maa-nulth Treaty or in accordance with Nuu-chah-nulth custom,
- Is a descendant of a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ citizen, or
- Is accepted by the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation as a member of the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation in accordance with Nuu-chah-nulth custom and has a demonstrated attachment to the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ First Nation.
Enrolment
As regards a Maa-nulth First Nation, an individual is eligible for enrolment under this Agreement if that individual:
- a. Is of that Maa-nulth First Nation ancestry;
- b. Was adopted under laws recognized in Canada or in accordance with the custom of that Maa-nulth First Nation by an individual of that applicable Maa-nulth First Nation who is eligible for enrolment under a., b. or c.;
- c. Is a descendant of an individual of that Maa-nulth First Nation who is eligible for enrolment under a. or b.; or
- d.Is accepted by that Maa-nulth First Nation as a member of that Maa-nulth First Nation in accordance with the custom of the Maa-nulth First Nation and has a demonstrated attachment to that Maa-nulth First Nation community.
Applying for Citizenship and/or Enrolment
- In order to become a Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Citizen or Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Enrollee, an individual must complete the Yuułuʔiłʔatḥ Citizenship and Enrollment Form and return it to the Citizenship and Enrollment Registrar.
- All applications for Citizenship on the basis of descent [Citizenship Act 2 b(iii)] or for Enrollment on the basis of descent must include a CERTIFIED birth certificate for the applicant as well as a genealogy chart.