Administration

Executive Director

To ensure a clear separation between politics and administration, Chief & Council delegate management of the day-to-day procedural operations to the Executive Director.

The role of the Executive Director includes, but not limited to:

Develop, authorize, and implement employment policies and administrative activities in accordance with Cheam First Nation’s laws, bylaws, policies and agreements.
Ensure all programs, services and projects are managed in accordance with all applicable laws, funding regulations and contractual requirements.
Select, supervise, and support employees to ensure they are fulfilling their job duties.
Seek and secure sufficient resources for Cheam First Nation to finance its programs and services.

Finance

The Finance team assists the departments in accomplishing their financial objectives. The Finance team provides:

Monthly financial statements, journal entries and budgeting
Financial inquiries
Payroll, accounts payable and receivable administration
Funding and service contract administration
Insurance policy monitoring
To ensure all financial reports are completed in a timely manner as per compliance with funding agreements.

Human Resources

The Human Resources department is responsible for serving all levels of the Band Office, from staff to senior management, in all aspects of Employment and People Management, while they support the Cheam community. HR is also responsible for recruitment and retention and driving the alignment of CFN’s culture and values to its employment practices and policies.

Governance

The Governance Department provides administrative support to Cheam Chief & Council.

Refers Members to the appropriate Councillor portfolio holder or administration personnel
Assists Members with enquiries regarding Council or programs and services
Organizes all Band meeting announcements, schedules and events
Provides support to Council on cross-government (Stó:lō Tribal Council, UBCIC) initiatives

Lands

Framework agreement

Cheam First Nation became operational under the Cheam Land Code on September 1, 2016. Through the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, Cheam regains governance over the day-to-day management of our reserve lands and resources.

Cheam has entered a joint management agreement with Sq’éwlets and Soowahlie, jointly known as SCS Lands, to move forward together under Land Code development, implementation, and funding. The SCS Lands have been working together to develop Laws.

Enacted laws

Cheam has the authority to manage and protect its reserve lands pursuant to the Framework Agreement on First Nation Land Management, the First Nations Land Management Act and the Cheam First Nation Land Code. This authority includes the jurisdiction to pass laws setting out the principles, rules and administrative structures that apply to Cheam First Nation lands.

Pursuant to this authority and in accordance with the procedures set out in Section 3 of the Cheam First Nation Land Code, the Chief and Council have enacted the following laws.

Enacted Law Name Status Effective Date

Cheam First Nation Land Code Approved September 1, 2016

Spousal Real Property Law Approved September 20, 2017

Spousal Real Property Regulation Development

CP and Allotment Law Approved September 20, 2017

Subdivision, Development and Servicing Law Approved September 20, 2017

Survey Standards Policy Approved September 20, 2017

Cannabis Control Law Approved March 17, 2020

Application for Cannabis Business Permit Approved March 17, 2020

Urgent laws

In the Cheam First Nation Land Code, subsections 3.8 to 3.10 state the following:

Council may enact a Law without the preliminary steps required [in subsections 3.1 to 3.7] if Council, acting reasonably, believes that the Law is required urgently to protect Cheam Reserve Lands or Members.
A law enacted under Section 3.8 will [be] deemed to have been repealed and to have no force and effect 90 days after its enactment, but may be re-enacted in whole or as amended in accordance with subsections 3.1 to 3.7 and 3.10.
A Law is enacted when approved by Council Resolution after Council has complied with subsections 3.1-3.7 above, or for urgent matters, subsection 3.8.

Urgent Law Name Enacted Repealed

Law Enforcement Officer Law June 2, 2020 August 31, 2020

Vacant and Dangerous Building Law June 2, 2020 August 31, 2020

Community Protection Law June 2, 2020 August 31, 2020