Pauquachin facts for kids

The Pauquachin (also known as Pak-quw-chin) are an Indigenous group from the Coast Salish family. Their traditional lands are in the Greater Victoria area, located on the southern part of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. The Pauquachin people live in the area between Gordon Head and Cowichan Head.

They are one of the five main groups, or 'families,' that make up the larger Saanich Nation. The other groups are the Tsawout, the Tseycum, the Malahat, the T'sou-ke, and the Tsartlip First Nations. In 2016, about 330 people were officially recognized as Pauquachin.

The Pauquachin people speak a language called North Straits Salish. They were formally organized into the Pauquachin First Nation under a Canadian law called the Indian Act. The Pauquachin are also part of the Te'Mexw Treaty Association. This group works with the governments of Canada and British Columbia to negotiate important treaties for several Indigenous communities.

A Look at Pauquachin History

The Pauquachin First Nation shares that their community began with a small group of only 14 families. Their history is rich and connected to the land and waters of their territory.

Early Agreements with James Douglas

In 1852, Governor James Douglas of the Hudson's Bay Company made two agreements with the Saanich people. On February 6, 1852, he signed a treaty with the southern Saanich groups, which included the Pauquachin and Malahat. Whut-say mullet and nine other leaders signed this agreement. A few days later, on February 11, another treaty was made with the northern Saanich groups. These treaties involved trading several hundred blankets. They became the basis for the government taking over their traditional lands.

Pauquachin Reserves Today

The Pauquachin First Nation owns and lives on three special areas called reserves. These reserves are located on the Saanich Inlet south of Mill Bay, and in the Goldstream and Highlands Districts.

The reserves are:

• Coles Bay (Indian Reserve #3)
• Hatch Point (Indian Reserve #12)
• Goldstream (Indian Reserve #13)

The Goldstream reserve is shared with the Malahat, Tsartlip, Tsawout, and Tseycum First Nations. This shared area is important for traditional fishing. Most Pauquachin members who live on a reserve reside on the Coles Bay reserve. This reserve has homes, cultural buildings, and administrative offices.

These reserves were officially set aside in 1877. This was part of the Douglas Treaties on Southern Vancouver Island. These treaties were a colonial policy that recognized Indigenous ownership of land.

Protecting the Land and Environment

In 1996, experts found that many years of development around the Saanich Inlet had caused a lot of damage to the environment. A study in 1997 about cultural development showed similar problems. These investigations were linked to a large building project called the Bamberton Town Development Project. This project was planned next to the Malahat area and could have caused big changes to the environment and culture.

Because of these concerns, a special project was created. It was overseen by the Environmental Assessment Office. This project aimed to include the needs of six Indigenous groups: the Malahat, Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum, Tsawout Bands, and the Cowichan Tribes. The report explained how the affected land was traditionally used and how it is used today.

The experiences from this project led to protecting different areas in the new town. In 1998, Indigenous people became involved in creating marine protection areas. This helped ensure that important natural and cultural sites would be preserved for the future.