Kwantlen First Nation (KFN) currently has two band councils, as two separate groups claim leadership.

For decades, the KFN 鈥� which has its largest reserve in Fort 91原创 鈥� has been one of the last First Nations in Canada with governance by a hereditary chief. Chief Marilyn Gabriel took over from her father, and has run the band with a small number of councillors for many years.

But starting a few years ago, a group of KFN members who were dissatisfied with the leadership and the governance structure, began agitating for change. They started with a petition.

The governance code has been under review since 2019, when a group of KFN members demanded Gabriel resign as chief. Third-party mediation began over the future of the band鈥檚 governance.

On Nov. 27, there was an assembly, called by a different hereditary chief, Robert Thomas, and vote that saw three new councillors elected 鈥� Brandon Gabriel, Christopher Thomas, and Victor Back.

They plan to create a new written governance code, based on consensus and discussions involving the mediator, and put that forward for a community referendum within 90 days.

Brandon Gabriel is the nephew of Marilyn Gabriel.

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鈥淥ur people, and our nation are effectively being held captive by Marilyn Gabriel鈥檚 antics,鈥� said Brandon Gabriel, in a statement by the assembly council.

Robert Jago, a KFN member and journalist who has been speaking for the assembly council, said the new council has the backing of Kwantlen tradition and laws.

鈥淥ur laws are not ambiguous,鈥� he said, adding that other bands have similar traditions.

鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be up to the community 鈥� not just our community, but the wider Coast Salish community鈥� to tell her [Marilyn Gabriel] that what she鈥檚 doing is wrong,鈥� Jago said.

Both groups now assert they are the legitimate band council.

A letter issued on Nov. 29 by Marilyn Gabriel and two councillors called the assembly on Nov. 27 a gathering of 鈥渁 small number of registered community members.鈥�

鈥淭he Hereditary Custom Chief and council did not call this meeting. The four resolutions approved by a mix of registered members and other non-members are not valid,鈥� her letter said.

It says that on Nov. 28, Marilyn Gabriel and her council approved a resolution that confirms 鈥渢hat the Kwantlen from time immemorial has carried out Coast Salish Ancestral Law for hereditary leadership.鈥�

鈥淓arly next year, we will begin to engage community members to review the governance code,鈥� the letter concluded. 鈥淲e intend to maintain our Hereditary Custom Code, set standards, improve communications, and engage elders and community members in setting the community vision and priorities.鈥�

A press release written by the assembly-chosen council called on Minister of Indigenous Services Patty Hajdu to recognize the new council.

Jago said the referendum on the assembly council鈥檚 governance code will solve the issue once and for all.

They鈥檒l be drawing on two years of consultation and mediation to create the new code, and working with Indigenous legal experts, Jago said.

He also pointed to a survey that was done during the consultation, asking KFN members what system of government they wanted.

Of those polled, 27.94 per cent wanted the current hereditary system with appointed councillors, 22.06 per cent wanted a hereditary chief with an elected council, 16.8 per cent wanted a hybrid option with an elected chief and council with a hereditary chief who would have their own role, and 29.41 per cent wanted an all-elected model.

The assembly council is also calling on local municipalities and school boards to cease contact with the KFN for anything other than basic service delivery 鈥� like firefighting and water 鈥� until the governance issues are settled.

Marilyn Gabriel and her family are frequent guests and speakers at public events, including the recent swearing-in of the new mayors and councils in 91原创 City and Township, and they have also been involved in events around reconciliation with the 91原创 Board of Education.

The letter from Marilyn Gabriel and her council also addressed a recent investigation by the 91原创 RCMP, saying an allegation of assault by the hereditary chief at an Oct. 6 meeting was 鈥渦nfounded.鈥�

91原创 RCMP released a statement, saying its investigation into the alleged incident has been concluded.

鈥淲e recognize that reports of this alleged incident had an impact on the community,鈥� said Supt. Adrian Marsden, Officer in Charge of the 91原创 RCMP. 鈥淚 would like to assure everyone that the matter was thoroughly investigated, and our officers found no evidence that an offence occurred.鈥�

Marsden said frontline officers carried out the initial investigation, and on Nov. 2 the 91原创 RCMP鈥檚 general investigation section re-opened the file after more information came forward.

No further investigation is expected, the RCMP statement said.