Leq'á:mel First Nation facts for kids

The Leq'á:mel First Nation, also known as the Lakahahmen First Nation in the past, is a First Nation community. Their main offices and community are located near Deroche, British Columbia in the Fraser Valley region of Canada. This area is about 12 kilometres east of the District of Mission. The Leq'á:mel First Nation is a member of the Sto:lo Nation Chiefs Council. The Sto:lo Nation is one of two main tribal councils for the Sto:lo people.

Even though they were sometimes called the Sumas before 1962, the Leq’á:mel people are different from the Sumas of today. Over time, they have also been known by names like Alternate Nicomen, Nicomen Slough, and Somass River. After 1924, they merged with the Squeam or Skweahm people. In 1962, their name changed to Lackahahmen, which they used until 2003. Historically, they were connected to the Sumas, Scowlitz, Matsqui, and Nooksack tribes.

The name "Leq’á:mel" means "the level place where people meet." This name shows that their land was once a very popular trading spot in the traditional Stó:lō territory. It is also believed that the Halkomelem dialect called Halq’eméylem was first spoken here. In the past, the Leq’á:mel people lived in large longhouses on their land. Some of these longhouses were up to one kilometre long.

How the Leq'á:mel First Nation is Governed

The Leq'á:mel First Nation uses its own special system to choose its leaders. This is called a custom electoral system. The current chief is Alice Thompson. She started her term on April 1, 2021, and will serve until March 31, 2025.

Population and Language

How Many People Live Here?

The Government of British Columbia reports that the Leq'á:mel First Nation has about 460 members. The 2016 census showed that there were 695 members of the First Nation. This was a decrease of 11% from the 2006 census. Out of these members, 150 were officially registered as Indian. As of July 2022, 125 registered members live on Leq'á:mel land. Another 19 members live on other reserves, and 338 members live off-reserve.

The Leq'á:mel First Nation manages two cemeteries. These cemeteries have many graves that do not have names on them.

The Halq’eméylem Language

The traditional language of the Leq'á:mel First Nation is Halq’eméylem. However, for many people living on their reserves, this language is not their first language. The number of members who knew the language dropped by half from 2006 to 2016, reaching 2.2%. In 2016, 675 members only knew English.

Leq'á:mel Indian Reserves

The Leq'á:mel First Nation currently has ten Indian Reserves that they manage. These lands are located in different areas, including Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Deroche, and Nicomen Island.

Types of Reserve Lands

Out of the ten reserves, three are used for homes where people live. Two of the reserves are cemeteries. The other reserves are used in different ways. Some are held by band members with special certificates. Others are rented out for farming. Some are kept for future economic development projects.

List of Leq'á:mel Reserves

Here are some of the Indian Reserves managed by the Leq'á:mel First Nation:

• Aylechootlook Indian Reserve No. 5: This reserve is 18.70 hectares in size. It is located where the Sumas River and Vedder Canal meet.
• Holachten Indian Reserve No. 8: This reserve is 102.10 hectares. It is on the north bank of Nicomen Slough, which is part of the Fraser River.
• Lackaway Indian Reserve No. 2: This reserve is 15.80 hectares. It is on the south bank of the Fraser River, near the mouth of Wilson Slough.
• Lakahahmen Indian Reserve No. 11: This is the most populated of the reserves, covering 38.1 hectares. It is on the north bank of Nicomen Slough, where Deroche Creek meets the Fraser River. In 2016, 177 people lived here. Most of them spoke English as their first language.
• Lakway Cemetery Indian Reserve No. 3: This cemetery reserve is 4 hectares. It is on the south bank of the Fraser River, about half a mile east of Wilson Slough.
• Papekwatchin Indian Reserve No. 4: This reserve is 95.10 hectares. It is on the south shore of Nicomen Island, which is in the Fraser River.
• Pekw'Xe:yles (Peckquaylis): This reserve is 10.30 hectares. It is located between downtown Mission and Hatzic. This land was once the site of the St. Mary's Indian Residential School. It is shared by 21 different First Nations bands.
• Skweahm Indian Reserve No. 10: This reserve is 69.40 hectares. It is on the south bank of Nicomen Slough, about one mile south of the Deroche CPR Station.
• Sumas Cemetery Indian Reserve No. 12: This cemetery reserve is 2.50 hectares. It is on the left bank of the Fraser River, near the mouth of the Sumas River, on the northeast side of Sumas Mountain.
• Yaalstrick Indian Reserve No. 1: This reserve is 114.90 hectares. It is on Yaalstrick Island in the Fraser River, about 2 miles southeast of the Deroche CPR station.
• Zaitscullachan Indian Reserve No. 9: This reserve is 22.50 hectares. It is on the right bank of Zaits-Cullachan Slough, which is part of the Fraser River.

Land Transfer for the Community

In 2021, a piece of government land was transferred to a society formed by the Leq’á:mel, Matsqui (Mathexwi), and Sumas (Semá:th) First Nations. This land is 60 hectares and is next to Fraser River Heritage Park and the Pekw’xe:yles Indian Reserve. This area was also the former site of the St. Mary's Indian Residential School. This property is not reserve land, so it still follows provincial and local government laws. Most of this land was leased back to the government to be used as a park and recreation area. This property also contains important archaeological sites from before European contact.