Malahat First Nation facts for kids
The Malahat First Nation is a First Nation community of the W̱SÁNEĆ (Saanich People). They are part of the larger Coast Salish group. About 350 members live on two reserve lands. These lands are located on the western shore of Saanich Inlet, on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.
The Malahat First Nation is a member of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council. They were also the ninth First Nation in Canada to be certified by the First Nations Financial Management Board. Their traditional languages are Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓ and SENĆOŦEN. Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓ is spoken in British Columbia and Washington State. Efforts are being made to help more people learn and speak this language, as it is mostly spoken by elders. The current Chief of Malahat Nation is George Harry. He became Chief on June 10, 2019.
The Malahat Nation lives on land rich in natural resources. They have always worked to protect and restore these resources. This comes from their spiritual beliefs that teach respect for nature. They also work to strengthen their resources after years of overfishing and settlement by others. The Malahat Nation also takes part in activism for environmental and social issues. Like other Indigenous peoples in Canada, they are dealing with the effects of residential schools. The community has also faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. They have responded with health and economic solutions.
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Malahat Lands and Environment
Where the Malahat Live
The Malahat people live on Vancouver Island, off the coast of British Columbia. Their homeland has mountains, forests, rivers, and waterfalls. It also has many natural resources. In 2015, the Malahat Nation bought back a part of their traditional lands. This land included places like Bamberton and Oliphant Lake. This purchase tripled the amount of land they own.
Buying the land was seen as a good way to get back their rightful territory. This investment will help future generations. It can provide housing, job opportunities, and even become a place for tourists to visit.
Natural Resources and Their Use
The Malahat lands offer many resources. These include sea-life, animals for hunting, timber from forests, and some metals or rocks that can be mined. People have used materials from the forests for a long time. The southern part of western Vancouver Island is also good for farming.
The Malahat people want to develop their land for future generations. However, they are also discussing fracking (a way to get gas or oil from the ground). They are carefully considering the impacts of fracking on their local environment. This includes concerns about air pollution and using a lot of fresh water.
Protecting the Environment
Salmon is a very important fish for Indigenous peoples. It is a key resource and also a focus for environmental protection. In 2011, a large amount of fuel spilled on the Malahat Highway. This fuel leaked into the Goldstream River. Thousands of fish died because of this spill. A big clean-up effort followed to protect the area.
Years later, in 2018, there were plans to help restore chinook salmon on the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Chinook salmon are the biggest type of salmon on the Pacific Coast. In some areas, they are endangered. This effort aims to increase the number of salmon and help all local Indigenous peoples.
Beliefs and History
Malahat Beliefs and Stories
The Malahat Nation comes from the Saanich people, who are part of the Coast Salish peoples. While there are many different beliefs, they often share common ideas. Their stories explain how humans and nature are connected. These stories also explain why they are linked to their ancestral lands. Many stories are passed down by speaking them aloud. This helps keep their languages alive and connected to their beliefs.
For example, they have creation stories about mountains, deer, and blue jays. They also have stories about what happens when people forget their duties to nature. Early Salish people had spiritual rituals, like coming-of-age ceremonies for young people. These rituals, such as vision quests, helped young people connect with their personal spirit guides.
Life Before European Contact
Indigenous people have lived on Vancouver Island for thousands of years. They chose these places because of the many resources available. Early Coast Salish people hunted a lot of fish and mammals. It is thought that people living inland moved closer to the coast because it offered more food.
Coast Salish people often lived a semi-nomadic life in the summer. This allowed them to use all the resources. In winter, they lived in plank houses. These were permanent homes. The social structure was based on households. Each home could have immediate family and also more distant relatives. These homes would form small villages in the winter.
After European Contact
The Malahat Nation, as part of the Coast Salish group, likely first met Europeans in the 1700s. After contact with settlers, Indigenous people across British Columbia were often forced off their traditional lands. Many also died from diseases like smallpox in the 1700s and 1800s.
Treaties were also a big part of interactions with European settlers. In the mid-1800s, the Hudson's Bay Company wanted to establish its presence on Vancouver Island. James Douglas was sent to Indigenous territories to make treaties and get land. These treaties have greatly affected how Indigenous people and modern governments interact.
The Douglas Treaties were made when Coast Salish people believed in sharing and generosity. It was common for Saanich people to have good relations with other groups. They shared access to resources and moved across territories. Today, the rules of these treaties still impact how those who signed them interact with each other and their non-Indigenous neighbors.
Residential schools are also an important part of post-contact history. Vancouver Island had five residential schools. The first opened in 1890, and the last closed in 1983. In 2021, it was reported that at least 202 children died at these schools. These schools tried to force Indigenous children to give up their culture. However, there was resistance, as seen by how often the schools had to be rebuilt due to fires. Today, the Canadian government is more willing to discuss the history of these schools.
Malahat Culture
Art and Returning Ancestral Objects
Material objects are a big part of Indigenous cultures. One effect of colonialism was that many Indigenous objects and artifacts were taken. In British Columbia, the government set aside two million dollars to help return these items. This effort will also include hiring Indigenous experts to guide the process. Returning these objects helps communities connect with their ancestors and heritage.
Another part of this effort is to return human remains. This is important to Indigenous communities. Reburying their ancestors means completing ceremonies and journeys that were stopped when remains were taken from their homelands. The Coast Salish nations are known for their art inspired by nature and their beliefs about the world around them.
Potlatches
Historically, potlatches were important events for Coast Salish people. They were used to show and give away wealth. These events also brought people together to discuss issues, decide social rank, and display cultural items. During a potlatch, many goods would be given away. By sharing wealth generously, a prominent member would strengthen their social status. These large events also included big meals. They could also be a way to settle disagreements peacefully through competition, rather than violence.
Malahat Government
Malahat is a First Nation. This means they were either the original people of the land or were present during the first European contact. First Nation people are not Inuit or Métis. "First Nation" is a general term for many people who identify as Indigenous to Canada.
First Nations are mainly governed by the Indian Act. This act has been in place since 1876. It gives some power to First Nations to have their own laws. However, it still limits their power in relation to the Canadian government. Important treaties in British Columbia and Canada include the Te'mexw Treaty Association Agreement-in-Principle (2015) and the Malahat Nation Incremental Treaty Agreement (2013). The Douglas Treaties of 1850 and 1854 are also significant.
As of 2022, a new treaty between the Te'mexw Treaty Association and the Canadian government is almost complete. The Te'mexw Treaty Association includes five Nations from the Coastal Salish group: Malahat, Snaw-aw-as, Songhees, T'sou-ke, and Scia'new. The Malahat Nation is led by a Chief, currently Chief George Harry.
Malahat Activism
Land Rights and Use
In the Malahat community, like other Indigenous communities, there can be disagreements about how traditional lands are used. This includes lands held by the Canadian government and those managed by First Nations. Working with environmental groups, people in Southwest British Columbia have spoken out against pipelines and industrial construction on their homelands.
In 2021, the overuse of lumber also led to protests from Indigenous peoples, including the Malahat. These protests were about Fairy Creek and the removal of thousands of years old trees. The main goals were to save the trees and to allow First Nation leaders to negotiate with logging companies. This fight against climate change and for rights to traditional forests led to the arrest of 800 people.
Remembering Residential Schools
In 2021, after recent discoveries of unmarked graves at residential schools, the Malahat Nation organized an event. This event was to protest past treatment and honor those who died at residential schools. A march took place with the Malahat Nation, neighboring nations, and non-Indigenous allies. The Malahat Nation hopes for unity against past injustices. They are also commissioning totem poles to remember those who died at and survived the residential schools.
Malahat and COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought big changes to Indigenous communities. The Malahat Nation is adapting by focusing on community projects that help their economy. They have been working on the Malahat Skywalk. Construction continued during the pandemic after it was deemed safe.
This project will turn forest treetops into a tourist spot. It will be 650 meters long. Visitors will be able to walk through nature and then go up to a spiral lookout. This lookout will offer amazing views of the Malahat lands. While many Indigenous communities faced challenges during COVID-19, there is a push to provide health supplies and information.
See also
- Malahat
Images for kids
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Malahat traditional territory
