1. What is the Tribunal?
2. Tribunal Project
3. Community Engagement Sessions
4. Contact Us
The Tribunal helps to ensure that government decision-making is:
- lawful and in the best interest of Huu-ay-aht and
- provide for the just, timely, cost-effective and final resolution of Huu-ay-aht disputes.
This system supports both the modern legal structure and Huu-ay-aht’s traditional principles, working together to create a strong, accountable Nation.
For more details, click here:Tribunal Act
To contact the Tribunal Chair, John Rich, please reach out to: hfntribunal@gmail.com
Any correspondence sent to the Huu-ay-aht Tribunal will not be seen by the Huu-ay-aht Government.
The Tribunal Act establishes the Huu-ay-aht Tribunal with members appointed by Executive Council, the ḥaw̓iiḥ Council and the People’s Assembly to:
- decide appeals from administrative decisions,
- determine the validity of Huu-ay-aht laws,
- conduct investigations,
- perform other duties assigned to the tribunal by Executive Council or by Huu-ay-aht law
- resolve disputes between Huu-ay-aht citizens if the parties request resolution,
- lay an information under the Offence Act (British Columbia) for an offence under Huu-ay-aht law, and
- provide information and recommendations on sentencing to a court
Tribunal Independence
The Tribunal Chair has the direct responsibility to manage administration, entirely independent of HFN Government.
The Chair’s Duties:
- ability for citizens to access the Tribunal
- receiving and dealing with applications to the Tribunal
- Responsibility for maintaining files and records
For more details, click here: Tribunal Independence
Link to the responsibilities of the Tribunal here: The Huu-ay-aht First Nations Tribunal
Link to the Rules of Practise and Procedure here: Rules of Practise and Procedure
We want to gently remind you that you are not alone, support is available. Below, you’ll find a list of services offered by Huu-ay-aht, along with additional resources outside the Nation that are here to help.
| Huu-ay-aht Child & Family Wellness | 250-736-5066, After-Hours Emergencies for Child Protection & Intimate Partner Violence: 250-731-6999 |
| Huu-ay-aht Counselling | 250-735-4326 or 250-735-0948 |
| Huu-ay-aht Outreach Worker | 250-723-0100 |
| Huu-ay-aht Cultural Support | 250-728-3414 |
| Teechuktl Mental Health | 250-724-3939 |
| Quu’a s a Wellness | 250-724-5757 |
| Mental Health Support Line | 310-6789 (no area code needed) |
| Suicide Prevention Line | 1-800-784-2433 |
| Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society | 250-390-3123 |
The Huu-ay-aht Tribunal remains influenced by colonial systems and lacks full integration of Huu-ay-aht principles and cultural law. This project builds on the 2022 Panel of Inquiry’s recommendations, aiming to support legal reform, education, and trauma-informed aid for lasting healing and change.
Huu-ay-aht secured a $1.0 million “Weaving Justice” Grant, a four-year project that is funded by the Law Foundation of BC. This funding supports the Tribunal Project, which will undertake a review and recommend possible amendments to our Tribunal Act, while incorporating Huu-ay-aht Values and the Three Sacred Principles.
The project is focused on:
- reviewing Tribunal related documents looking for ways to incorporate Huu-ay-aht Values and Three Sacred Principles
- holding confidential conversations with citizens (one-on-one or family home visits)
- suggesting any changes based on evidence and community input
The Project will happen in four stages, led by the Project Team:
- Executive Director: Karen Haugen
- Project Lead: Heather Castleden
- Project Coordinator: Jeremy Perkins
- Summer Intern: Kiana Mio
Guided by the Advisory Circle
- Chair of the Law and Policy Development Committee: Stephen Rayner
- Huu-ay-aht First Nation Tribunal Member: Andrea Pettigrew
- Huu-ay-aht Elder appointed by the nanaaniiqsu: Jack Cook
- Huu-ay-aht Citizen: Angela Wesley
- Huu-ay-aht Citizen: Kiana Mio
- ḥaw̓iiḥ representative appointed by the ḥaw̓iiḥ Council: Tommy Happynook
To view the Huu-ay-aht Tribunal Project Advisory Circle Understanding our Responsibilities, click here.
For a bio from each member of the Project Team and Advisory Circle, please click on photo below or here to view.
This project will be undertaken in four phases:
Phase 1: Conduct research regarding the Tribunal Act (legal research).
Phase 2: Explore options for potential reform to the Tribunal Act (legal reform).
Phase 3: Provide citizen education around any potential and actual reforms (legal education).
Phase 4: Create and offer culturally relevant tools and support to future tribunal processes (legal aid).
To celebrate and begin project implementation, Huu-ay-aht First Nations held Community Engagement Sessions from May 26 – May 29, 2025, where an introduction to the Project, Team and Advisory Circle was provided.
For the Presentation details, click here
If you would like to review the Presentation with audio, click here
Four distinct themes came from citizen questions and comments. For more details on the feedback heard at the Community Engagement Sessions, please click on photo below or here to view.
The Project Team aims to host three Engagement Sessions per year to:
- Provide updates on the Tribunal project
- Invite feedback on how you think the research is going
- Invite you to connect with the Project Team to schedule a confidential conversation with one of us (one-on-one or family home visits)
- Offer Clinical and Cultural support for citizens
The Project team would like to hear from those who have experience in the Tribunal process, whether as a:
- claimant,
- respondent,
- within staff or leadership roles,
- supporter of someone who went through the Tribunal,
- or knowledge holder of Huu-ay-aht legal traditions
Your lived experience is part of our shared story, and your voice will help guide us forward.
Are you a Huu-ay-aht citizen, Elder, government staff member that has experience with the Tribunal process? Are you a Huu-ay-aht citizen, Elder, government staff member that has knowledge about traditional dispute resolution practices? Your voice matters! Take part in a private, in-person or virtual conversation that will be recorded with your consent and led by a research trainee or the project lead. There are no right or wrong answers, just your experiences.
We will provide regular updates on the website, Huu-ay-aht – Ancient Spirit, Modern Mind, the Huu-ay-aht App and Huu-ay-aht Facebook page for more information.
Before you reach out, please read this important letter on behalf of the ḥaw̓iiḥ and Executive Councils, click here
To schedule a conversation (In-person or online) or family home visit for more information, please contact us.
Contact us:
We want to gently remind you that you are not alone, support is available. Below, you’ll find a list of services offered by Huu-ay-aht, along with additional resources outside the Nation that are here to help.
| Huu-ay-aht Child & Family Wellness | 250-736-5066, After-Hours Emergencies for Child Protection & Intimate Partner Violence: 250-731-6999 |
| Huu-ay-aht Counselling | 250-735-4326 or 250-735-0948 |
| Huu-ay-aht Outreach Worker | 250-723-0100 |
| Huu-ay-aht Cultural Support | 250-728-3414 |
| Teechuktl Mental Health | 250-724-3939 |
| Quu’a s a Wellness | 250-724-5757 |
| Mental Health Support Line | 310-6789 (no area code needed) |
| Suicide Prevention Line | 1-800-784-2433 |
| Tsow-Tun Le Lum Society | 250-390-3123 |