Founding Principles

The Foundation of NCI

Preamble

The Northern Cascadia Institute of AI Governance is founded on the principle that Northern British Columbia has the right to articulate its own AI governance standards before external regulation arrives. We believe that AI governance in the North must not be a downstream compliance reaction to standards authored elsewhere—it must be authored here, by the people who live with the consequences.

Core Principles

1. Self-Determination Comes First

Northern communities have the right to articulate their own standards before external regulation arrives. AI governance in the North must not be a downstream compliance reaction to standards authored elsewhere. It must be authored here, by the people that live with the consequences.

2. Governance Begins Local

AI will affect daily life, labour patterns, public services, water, land, industry, resource extraction, medical access, education—the things that Northern British Columbia understands differently than Vancouver, Ottawa, or Silicon Valley. We choose to start governance where impact will be felt: on the ground, with our own context.

3. Indigenous Nations are Equal Pillars in Standards Creation

Indigenous governments are not stakeholders. They are sovereigns. Standards cannot be legitimate without equal place for Indigenous law, Indigenous data rights, and Indigenous methodologies—at the table, not in the footnotes.

4. Northern BC Culture is a Valid Context for AI Risk

AI governance cannot pretend everywhere is the same. The North has its own economic model, its own relationship with land, its own multi-generational industrial cycle. The North is not “edge case Canada.” It is a distinct cultural region worthy of its own frameworks.

5. The North Must Not Wait for Permission

We do not need to wait for Ottawa or ISO to tell us what is allowed. We begin architecting standards now, and we will interface with ISO, IEEE, provincial, federal, and Indigenous legal systems on our terms.

What Makes Northern BC Unique

Economic Context

  • Resource-based economies
  • Multi-generational cycles
  • Remote communities
  • Small organizations

Cultural Context

  • Distinct regional identity
  • Strong communities
  • Intergenerational knowledge
  • Relationship with land

Governance Context

  • Multiple jurisdictions
  • Indigenous sovereignty
  • Regional autonomy
  • Community-driven

AI Risk Context

  • Resource extraction risks
  • Remote infrastructure
  • Small org needs
  • Data sovereignty

Declaration

We declare that:

  1. Northern BC has the right to set its own AI governance standards before external regulation arrives
  2. We are free to govern ourselves as we see fit, respecting all jurisdictions (municipal, Indigenous, provincial, federal)
  3. Indigenous communities and governments must be respected and included as equal partners, not just stakeholders
  4. Northern BC's unique culture and way of life require their own respect regarding AI governance
  5. We will begin architecting standards now, and interface with international, provincial, and federal systems on our terms

Co-Signatories

Founding Petitioner: Gabriel Lacroix, Founder

Co-Signatories: To be added as partnerships are established

We are seeking co-signers from Indigenous governments, municipalities, business organizations, academic institutions, and community leaders who share these principles. If you would like to co-sign this declaration, please contact us.

Express Interest in Co-Signing:
Email: governance@kaizenstrategic.ai

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