SEASONAL SESSION +
HOUSE OF ASSEMBLIES

The Hereditary Chiefs Council is made up of the Potlatched Hereditary Chiefs of Haida Gwaii.

The HCC provides the CHN with guidance and advice on important matters to protect the Nation’s culture. It’s members also serve on several CHN committees including the Haida Reconciliation Committee.

The House of Assembly (HOA) is the law making authority of the Haida Nation.

It is here that the CHN reports to the people of the Haida Nation on the progress of their mandate as directed by the Constitution of the Haida Nation.

At the House of Assembly Haida citizens can propose policy and/or legislation through resolutions and vote on their adoption. The HOA is held on the third week of October of each year alternating between Gaw Tlagee Old Massett and HlGaagilda Skidegate.

Motions and resoltuions are discussed, debated and voted on by the citizens.

Besides the HOA there are regular sittings of the CHN that are held quarterly, according to the seasons of the year to discuss progress on issues, make decisions as to next steps, and bring forward new business.

The HOA and Quarterly meetings are attended by Haida citizens.

People who are not of Haida Ancestry, can attend as guests as approved by the CHN

The Special House of Assembly (SHoA) is operationally the same as the annual HoA but differs in its initiation: the SHoA is called to action by a petition submitted to CHN. To be actionable, the petition requires the signatures of one hundred voting Haida citizens. S

HoA agendas solely deal with items brought forward in the petition and must be signed off by the Vice President of the Haida Nation.

The Vice President of the Haida Nation must call and implement a Special HoA within thirty days of receiving the petition.

The Hereditary Chiefs Council (HCC) determines whether there are grounds for holding a Special House of Assembly.

CHN’s seasonal reporting-out sessions or sittings report on CHN's activities. The seasonal sessions occur thrice yearly, with one sitting coinciding with the House of Assembly. The Vice President advertises the reporting session a minimum of seven days before the sitting occurs. CHN records and produces a public record detailing the specifics of the event. 

Reporting out sessions are led by elected leaders, whereas Citizens lead the proceedings during the annual House of Assembly.