Lands and natural resources are an inseparable part of the Northern Secwepems te Qelmucw (NStQ) culture and life and have sustained the NStQ people since time immemorial. The NStQ First Nations have continued to practice their Aboriginal Rights for thousands of years by hunting wildlife, fishing and collecting plant products for food, and social and ceremonial purposes.
The Northern Shuswap Tribal Council (NSTC) Natural Resources Department was established to provide NSTC and the NSTC Treaty Society with technical assistance in natural resources issues, as well as, to cooperate with the four affiliated NStQ First Nations in their natural resources management.

The main goal of the NSTC Natural Resources Department is to promote stronger participation of the four First Nations in their natural resources management. The NSTC Fisheries Program, which is operating under the NSTC Natural Resources Department, is an example of this approach. For more information about the Fisheries Program, please, see fisheries.

The four First Nations under the NSTC umbrella are:

Tsq'escen' (Canim Lake Band), Xats'ull/Cmetem' (Soda Creek Band/ Deep Creek, Stswecem'c/Xgat'tem (Canoe Creek Band/ Dog Creek Community), T'exelc (Williams Lake Band)

For more detailed information about the NSTC First Nations, please, follow the links to their individual Websites.

All four NSTC First Nations have established their own Natural Resources Departments and have Natural Resources Coordinators in place. People interested in natural resources issues within the NStQ Traditional Territory are encourage

d to contact Natural Resources Coordinators directly in their respective First Nations.

Persons to be contacted are:
Don Dixon Canim Lake (250) 397-2002
Scott Cousins Canoe/Dog Creek (250) 440-5649
Kristy Palmantier Williams Lake (250) 296-3507
Ken Michel Soda/Deep Creek (250) 989-2323

NStQ Traditional Territory covers roughly an area between Quesnel and Clinton from north to south, and Alexis Creek and Clearwater from west to east. Forestry is the main natural resources extracting industry in the area. First Nations are currently gaining very little benefit out of the forestry in the region. In addition to forestry, also mining and ranging are limiting NStQ People in practicing their Aboriginal Rights (especially hunting, harvesting medicinal plants, berry picking) and infringe their Aboriginal Title in the area.

In spite of well documented sustainability in their relationship with Nature, the NStQ people still have very little to say regarding the present natural resources management in the NStQ Traditional Territory.