BIOGRAPHY

Mr. C. T. (Manny) Jules

Mr. Jules is a member of the Kamloops Indian Band who has dedicated his life to the betterment of First Nations. He first became a member of the Council of the Band in 1974 at age 22. He continued in that position until 1984 when he was elected by acclamation to the Office of Chief. After 16 years in office, Mr. Jules retired as Chief in December of 2000 to devote his full attention to leading the drive to establish the First Nations Fiscal Institutions.

Mr. Jules was the driving force behind the 1988 passage by Parliament of Bill C-115, the only First Nation-led amendment to the Indian Act to date. This Bill clarified First Nation jurisdiction over property taxation on reserve lands.

The Indian Taxation Advisory Board (the Board) was created in 1989 to support First Nations wishing to implement property taxation under the Indian Act and to provide the Minister of Indian Affairs with advice on the approval of First Nation tax by-laws. Mr. Jules was appointed as its first Chairman, and was twice reappointed. The Board is the only First Nation-led administrative body to be directly involved in the exercise of the Minister's decision-making powers under the Indian Act. The new First Nations Tax Commission will replace the Board once the Commission is operational.

Mr. Jules resigned as Chair of the Board in 2003 to focus his efforts on being spokesperson for the First Nations Fiscal and Statistical Management Act initiative. After the Act received Royal Assent in 2005, Mr. Jules once again resumed the duties of the Chair of the Board.

Mr. Jules received a Fine Arts Diploma from Cariboo College in Kamloops, BC. He has also received an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of British Columbia.

Back to News Release

Back to News Release Index