Note: The above map may not include all active claims. The “other” claims are based on georeferenced maps, not official map files, so precision is not guaranteed.
Overview:
The status of First Nation land claims in BC is confusing and difficult to navigate. There does not seem to be any single resource that covers all of these claims, especially in regards to maps.
There appears to be several different types of claims out there, both involving official BC treaty negotiations and independent of that process. The basis of any land claim is always a map, so the land claims based on maps are the claims considered to be of note in regard to this investigation.
The map above displays the overall area of these claims, and contains two types of land claims backed by maps:
- Statement of Intent: Claims recognized by government, with maps published by the BC Government.
- Independent: Claims that, for whatever reason, are not part of the Statement of Intent list. Usually these are independent attempts to bypass official procedures with a declaration of independence, although some of these councils seems to be in active treaty negotiations.
Classification:
It should be noted that it is very common to encounter multiple names, or variations of names, for bands and tribal councils. The following lists may contain duplicate claims, but with different names (more investigation is required). Some councils appear to include the same members, but exist for different purposes (ie., one is for financial/administration, the other is for the land claim). Some of these claims or councils may even be defunct (or historically resolved) or serve purposes other than land claims.
Some of these discrepancies are probably the result of differences between provincial or federal classification schemes. SOIs are provincially-recognized, while the Tribal Council list is federal (denoted by a “council ID” field).
Statement of Intent Claims:
- ‘Namgis Nation (map)
- Acho Dene Koe First Nation (map)
- Allied Tribes of Lax Kw’alaams (map)
- Carcross/Tagish First Nation (map)
- Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CID 1049, map)
- Champagne and Aishihik First Nations (map)
- Cheslatta Carrier Nation (map)
- Council of the Haida Nation (CID 1039, map)
- Da’naxda’xw Awaetlatla Nation (map)
- Ditidaht First Nation (map)
- Esk’etemc First Nation (map)
- Gitanyow Hereditary Chiefs (map)
- Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs (CID 1116 (unconfirmed), map)
- Gwa’Sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation (proposed) (map)
- Haisla Nation (map)
- Heiltsuk Nation (map)
- Homalco Indian Band (map)
- Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group (Core) (map)
- Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group (Marine) (map)
- Hupacasath First Nation (map)
- K’ómoks First Nation (map)
- Kaska Dena Council (CID 1088, map)
- Katzie Indian Band (map)
- Klahoose Indian Band (map)
- Ktunaxa Kinbasket Treaty Council (CID 1009, map)
- Kwakiutl Nation (CID 1006, map)
- Laich-Kwil-Tach Council of Chiefs (map)
- Lake Babine Nation (map)
- Lheidli T’enneh First Nation (map)
- Liard First Nation (map)
- McLeod Lake Indian Band (map)
- Musqueam Nation (map)
- Nazko First Nation (map)
- Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (CID 1019, map)
- Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council (CID 1071, map)
- Pacheedaht Band (map)
- Quatsino First Nation (map)
- Ross River Dena Council (map)
- Samahquam (map)
- Sechelt Indian Band (map)
- Skatin Nations (map)
- Snuneymuxw First Nation (map)
- Squamish Nation (map)
- Stó:lo Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association (CID 1126 (unconfirmed), map)
- Taku River Tlingit First Nation (map)
- Te’mexw Treaty Association (map)
- Teslin Tlingit Council (map)
- Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (map)
- Tlatlasikwala Nation (map)
- Tlowitsis First Nation (map)
- Tsay Keh Dene Band (map)
- Tsimshian First Nations (map)
- Tsleil-Waututh Nation (map)
- Wei Wai Kum/Kwiakah First Nations (map)
- Westbank First Nation (map)
- Wet’suwet’en Nation (map)
- Wuikinuxv Nation (CID 1004, map)
- Yale First Nation (map)
- Yekooche First Nation (map)
Other Claims:
- Carrier-Chilcotin Tribal Council (CID 1017)
- First Nation of the Maa-Nulth Treaty Society (CID 8743)
- Fraser Thompson Indian Services Society (CID 9115, administrative side of Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council)
- Gitksan Local Services Society (CID 1116, possibly Gitxsan Hereditary Chiefs)
- Lillooet Tribal Council (CID 1046)
- Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council (CID 1150)
- Musgamagw Dzawada’enuxw Tribal Council (CID 1069)
- Naut’sa Mawt Resources Group Inc. (CID 1278)
- Naut’sa Mawt Tribal Council (CID 1024)
- Nlaka’pamux Nation Tribal Council (map)
- Okanagan Nation Alliance (CID 1016, map)
- Scw’exmx Tribal Council (CID 1010)
- Shuswap Nation Tribal Council (CID 1065, map)
- St’át’imc Chiefs Council
- Stk’emlupsemc Te Secwepemc Nation (map)
- Stó:lō Nation (CID 1126, unsure of difference with other Stó:lō entities)
- Stó:lō Tribal Council (CID 1153, unsure of difference with other Stó:lō entities)
- Tsilhqot’in National Government (CID 9097)
- Treaty 8 Tribal Association (CID 1072)
Citations
Disclaimer
Updated February 01 2026