People’s Assembly

The People’s Assembly is a formal meeting of Membership held according to Chapter 6 of the Squamish Nation Election & Referendum Law. It is held three times a year, presents pre-determined topics (e.g. the annual budget), and a certain number of Members must attend to meet quorum.

The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the third People’s Assembly of the year. Any resolutions that were approved at one of the first two People’s Assemblies of the year need to return for final Membership approval at the Annual General Meeting.

Quorum is the minimum number of eligible voting members that must be in attendance for voting to occur. The numbers required for quorum are established in the Election and Referendum Law: the first two assemblies of the year require 5 percent of eligible voters to achieve quorum, and the third assembly of the year (AGM) requires 12 percent of eligible voters to achieve quorum.

Having a set number of attendees required for quorum ensures that the resolutions that proceed are aligned with the will of the people. Decisions can only be made with a threshold of voters in attendance.

Show up early! Quorum must be established within 45 minutes of the start time, otherwise the meeting will adjourn and no voting will occur. It is important to arrive early to sign in and receive voting instructions.

The Assemblies provide an opportunity for Members to present resolutions on important items. Do you have an idea that would benefit the community? Have you identified something that needs to be changed? Submit a People’s Assembly resolution! It is important that as many Members attend the Assemblies as possible – your vote matters! Attending a People’s Assembly is a great way to get involved and stay updated on important information.

A resolution is a formal decision of the Membership, voted on by a quorum of Members at an assembly. A resolution can bring an idea forward, call for a change in process, or request work to be done on a certain item. Resolutions provide leadership a clear understanding of the will of the people as it relates to a certain topic.

If you are interested in submitting a resolution, email resolutions@squamish.net.

Staff will send you a resolution template and assist you in preparing your resolution. Make sure to submit your resolution as early as possible so that staff have time to help you develop a strong resolution.

First, a resolution must be passed at a People’s Assembly, either by a majority of Members voting in favour, or through the approval of a consent agenda. If there is no opposition at the time of voting on the agenda, consent agenda items would be approved to move forward to the next stage. Then, the resolution is included in the agenda for the Annual General Meeting (third People’s Assembly of the year) and must be approved by a majority of eligible voters present and voting.

A People’s Assembly resolution is also subject to Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council)’s fiduciary duty to all Nation Members. In other words, it is legally obligated to act in the best interests of the Membership as a whole– resolutions will be reviewed to ensure that they align with this responsibility.

Yes! The People’s Assembly is held simultaneously in-person at Totem Hall and Chief Joe Mathias Centre, and online via Zoom. Online attendees must register in advance to receive the meeting link. All eligible Members attending online will be able to vote.

Everyone is welcome to speak at a People’s Assembly. To keep discussion on track and make sure everyone has a chance to share, each eligible voter is allowed to speak for a maximum of two minutes when asking a question or making a statement. This is outlined in the Squamish Nation Election & Referendum Law.

Contact Ta na wa Chen̓tm (Chair & Council Office) staff at cco@squamish.net or 604-980-4553.