Beneficiary Referendum

Very simply, the KDFN beneficiary referendum is asking KDFN beneficiaries to approve three policies. If approved, these policies would be the guiding principles for how Kwanlin Dun would manage its Settlement Lands and Final Agreement money and how it would consult with its beneficiaries if there were ever any changes to the Final Agreement.

It is very important that beneficiaries make their voice heard by voting in this referendum. By voting “Yes” or “No” beneficiaries will let the KDFN government know whether they support the policies that beneficiaries are being asked to vote on.
For the policies to be approved a majority of all beneficiaries entitled to vote in the [...]

If not enough beneficiaries vote in the referendum, another referendum will have to be held until the policies are approved. Referendums are expensive and Kwanlin Dun will not be able to allow the long-term use of Settlement Land or invest its Final Agreement money until another referendum was held and the policies approved.

Chief and Council have guaranteed that KDFN beneficiaries will be consulted in the development of the Settlement Land Act and the Investment Governance Act which would be created if the Settlement Land Policy and the Investment Governance Policy are approved.
A consultation process will be established to ensure that beneficiaries are consulted in the development of [...]

Due to the high price of legal services and the KDFN constitutional requirement that the KDFN beneficiaries first approve the Settlement Land Policy and the Investment Governance Policy in a referendum, drafts of the Investment Governance Act and the Settlement Land Act have not been developed.
Once the policies have been approved in the referendum, Chief [...]

No, only the Trust Fund’’s Protector, or a Court of law, will have the power to remove Trustees before their terms expire. The Protector is a trusted individual, knowledgeable of the law, who will be appointed by KDFN to oversee the Trust Fund and ensure that the Trustees comply with the terms of the Trust [...]

The Beneficiary Referendum involves a lot of information. Some of the words used in the communication materials may not be understood by everybody. Here are definitions of some of the terms that are used:
Q.  What is a Referendum?
A referendum is a formal vote where voters are asked to accept or reject something, usually by [...]

If the Settlement Land Policy is approved, KDFN will develop a new law called the Settlement Land Act. This Act will be developed in consultation with KDFN beneficiaries. Right now, without this Act in place, KDFN can only approve the use of Settlement Land for three years at a time.
The Settlement Land Act will [...]

If the Settlement Land Policy is approved, then the Settlement Land Act will be developed. The Settlement Land Act will have provisions for granting long-term leases to beneficiaries to use Settlement Land. These leases would enable beneficiaries to get mortgages and build their own cabins on Settlement Land.

KDFN cannot develop the Settlement Land Act until the Settlement Land Policy has been approved. KDFN hopes to complete the Settlement Land Act within one year of the approval of the Settlement Land Policy. Once the Act is passed then beneficiaries can apply for land.