Four years ago, our work began with board training and governance support for a local society, Nikihk, which was created to meet the needs of the Kelly Lake First Nation's community. Kelly Lake is a vibrant Cree community located in British Columbia, never subjected under the Indian Act, and the people of Kelly Lake continue a cultural way of life, asserting their Aboriginal and Indigenous Rights as recognized in s.35 of the Constitution, UNDRIP, and DRIPA. As the community’s aspirations for self-determination grew clearer and stronger, so did the scale of the work as Nikihk rose to meet the community's call to action for formal recognition and self-government. What emerged was a multi-year, community-led journey to build an Indigenous governance process unique to Kelly Lake. In 2025 this work resulted in the election of a Government Council rooted in tradition, guided by community voice, and designed outside of colonial frameworks.
The community's goal was clear: formal recognition. What was not yet defined was how to get there. Together, we built that path – grounded in trust, community consensus, strong leadership, and the wisdom of Elders.
While we brought strategic planning, facilitation, and governance design to the table, the work was always done in service of the community’s vision and according to the guidance and direction of community leaders. Every step was co-created: from governance design to electoral processes to policy development. This work has been incredibly inspirational and the most sustained collaboration for Foxfire to date, and we remain deeply committed to the community and the outcomes of this journey.
Just as important are the intangible outcomes: increased trust, clarity, political confidence, and recognition. Kelly Lake is now actively shaping its future.