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Satsan (Herbert George) a Wet’suwet’en Nation Hereditary Chief of the Frog Clan has made extraordinary contributions to the advancement of legal and constitutional understandings of Indigenous rights and title in Canada and around the world. 

As founder and president of the Centre for First Nations Governance and co-director of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) partnership project Rebuilding First Nations Governance, Satsan is an internationally renowned expert on Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution 1982 and Indigenous peoples’ inherent right to self-governance.

Satsan’s ongoing commitment to the ·¬ÇÑÉçÇø began in the late 1980s when he and Dr. Frank Cassidy co-led the development of the Administration of Aboriginal Governments Program – precursor of the School of Indigenous Governance, which he also served as an Adjunct Professor.

From 1984-1999, Satsan served as legal strategist and speaker in the Office of the Hereditary Chiefs of the Wet’suwet’en Nation. The historical Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa case, which went all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada, used Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en laws to shape and refine the legal argument.  Evidence was based on the Gitxsan and Wet’suwet’en creation stories and oral histories and resulted in legal and constitutional recognition in Aboriginal title and rights.

His dedication and vision have made a tremendous impact on Indigenous communities, the courts, and academic discourse. He is an inspiration to Indigenous youth and a model for Indigenous leaders in implementing Indigenous rights and title.