NCI

Northern Cascadia Institute

of AI Governance

Regional AI governance standards for Northern BC and beyond

Incorporation Status

The Northern Cascadia Institute is in the process of incorporating as a BC Nonprofit Society with charitable purposes. We are currently in the pre-incorporation phase, preparing Articles of Incorporation and organizational structure. Once incorporated, we will be recognized as a public interest organization focused on advancing AI governance standards for Northern BC.

Legal Status: Pre-Incorporation (BC Society Act)
Tax Status: Charitable registration pending (CRA)

Mission

The Northern Cascadia Institute of AI Governance develops practical, accessible AI governance standards and frameworks that work for Northern BC and beyond. We focus on tools aligned with international standards like ISO 42001, designed specifically for smaller organizations, remote communities, and regional businesses.

Geographic Scope

Our focus is Northern British Columbia, specifically Regional Districts 5 (Peace River), 6 (Bulkley-Nechako), 7 (Fraser-Fort George boundary), 8 (Fraser-Fort George), 9 (Kitimat-Stikine), 10 (Skeena-Queen Charlotte), and surrounding areas. We acknowledge the unique geographic and economic context of the North, including lower population density, resource-based economies, and the importance of Indigenous sovereignty and data rights.

Primary Service Communities: Terrace, Kitimat, Prince Rupert, Smithers, and surrounding regional districts
Indigenous Territories: Tsimshian, Gitxsan, Wet'suwet'en First Nations and others in the region

Founding Principles

NCI is founded on five core principles:

  1. Self-Determination Comes First: Northern communities have the right to articulate their own standards before external regulation arrives
  2. Governance Begins Local: AI governance must start where impact will be felt: on the ground, with our own context
  3. Indigenous Nations are Equal Pillars: Indigenous governments are sovereigns, not stakeholders—equal partners in standards creation
  4. Northern BC Culture is a Valid Context: The North is a distinct cultural region worthy of its own frameworks
  5. The North Must Not Wait for Permission: We begin architecting standards now, interfacing with international systems on our terms

Read the complete Founding Principles Declaration

Consultation Whitepaper

Before developing standards, we're consulting with stakeholders to understand needs, build consensus, and establish principles. Our consultation whitepaper, “Why Does Northern BC Need Its Own AI Governance Lens?” presents the foundational case for regional standards.

This is the first public output from NCI—consultation before standards. We invite feedback from Indigenous governments, municipalities, businesses, and community organizations.

Read the Consultation Whitepaper

Board Recruitment

The Northern Cascadia Institute is seeking 2 additional board members to join our initial board of directors. We are looking for individuals with expertise in:

  • AI governance, ethics, or policy
  • Indigenous governance and data sovereignty
  • Municipal or regional government
  • Nonprofit governance and organizational development
  • Standards development and technical writing
  • Community engagement and stakeholder consultation

Board Structure: 3-5 members with roles including Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer. Board meetings will be held quarterly, with additional meetings as needed.

Time Commitment: Quarterly board meetings, participation in standards review, and strategic planning. Estimated 4-8 hours per month.

Interested in joining the board?
Email: governance@kaizenstrategic.ai

Our Work

  • Development of regional AI governance standards (NC-AI series)
  • Practical tools aligned with ISO 42001:2023
  • Annual AI & Technology Summit
  • Community engagement and stakeholder consultation
  • Partnership with Indigenous governments and communities
  • Public interest advocacy for AI governance
  • Education and resources for smaller organizations

Standards Development Process

All NCI standards follow a transparent public comment process:

  1. Draft Publication: Standards published as “Draft for Public Comment”
  2. Public Comment Period: Open invitation to Indigenous governments, municipalities, corporations, professional associations, and academic institutions
  3. Board Review: All comments reviewed by the board of directors
  4. Revision: Standards updated based on stakeholder feedback
  5. Final Publication: Published as official NCI standards

This process ensures our standards reflect the needs and perspectives of Northern BC stakeholders.

NC-AI Standards Series

The Northern Cascadia Institute develops and publishes practical AI governance standards and risk management templates aligned with ISO 42001:2023. Our standards are designed for smaller organizations, remote communities, and regional businesses.

NC-AI-001: AI Risk Register Template

Version 1.0 • Published Q4 2025 • Status: Draft for Public Comment

A comprehensive AI risk management template with 28 pre-populated risks across 8 categories, aligned with ISO 42001:2023.

View All StandardsView NC-AI-001

Membership

The Northern Cascadia Institute operates with a stakeholder-based membership model. Membership is open to:

  • Indigenous governments and communities
  • Municipal governments
  • Business organizations
  • Professional associations
  • Academic institutions
  • Individual contributors

Membership Benefits: Participation in standards development, voting on major organizational decisions, access to NCI resources and events, and public comment privileges on standards.

Membership details and application process will be available upon incorporation.

Annual AI & Technology Summit

The Northern Cascadia Institute hosts an Annual AI & Technology Summit in late summer/early fall. The summit brings together business leaders, government officials, Indigenous representatives, and technology experts to discuss AI governance and digital strategy in Northern BC.

Learn More About the Summit

Indigenous Partnership

We recognize and respect Indigenous sovereignty and data rights. The Institute acknowledges the jurisdiction of Indigenous governments over AI governance on their territories. Future versions of our standards will include multi-language support for Indigenous languages.

Land Acknowledgment: The Northern Cascadia Institute operates on the traditional territories of the Tsimshian, Gitxsan, and Wet'suwet'en First Nations.

Financial Structure

As a nonprofit organization, the Northern Cascadia Institute operates with diversified revenue streams:

  • Grants and funding (public interest/public benefit)
  • Event revenue (Annual Summit)
  • Donations and sponsorships
  • Resource licensing (optional)
  • Professional services (standards consulting)

All revenue supports our mission of advancing AI governance standards for Northern BC. Financial reporting will be available upon incorporation.

Organizational Independence

The Northern Cascadia Institute of AI Governance is an independent nonprofit organization currently in the process of incorporation as a BC Nonprofit Society. NCI operates with complete independence in governance, decision-making, and standards development.

NCI maintains separate governance, finances, and decision-making from any commercial entity. Our standards are developed through transparent public consultation and multi-stakeholder participation.

Note: Kaizen Strategic AI is one of the early contributors to NCI's formation, but NCI operates independently as a standards-setting organization. For commercial AI consulting services, visit Kaizen Strategic AI.

Contact & Feedback

We welcome feedback on our standards, partnerships, and organizational development. For inquiries about incorporation, board positions, membership, or standards, please contact:

Email: governance@kaizenstrategic.ai
Website: kaizenstrategic.ai