Snuneymuxw First Nation facts for kids
The Snuneymuxw First Nation (pronounced snu-NAY-mukhw) is an Indigenous group located near the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. In the past, their territory also reached the Fraser River in British Columbia.
For over 5,000 years, before Europeans arrived and created Indian reserves, the Snuneymuxw people lived in a large area of south-central Vancouver Island. Their land stretched to the Gulf Islands and the Fraser River, right in the middle of Coast Salish territory. They speak a language called Hul’qumi’num.
The Snuneymuxw First Nation helps manage Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.
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Language of the Snuneymuxw
The Snuneymuxw people speak the Hul'q'umi'num' dialect. This language is part of the Coast Salish language family.
In 2009, a report showed that out of 1,560 Snuneymuxw people, about 25 spoke the language fluently. Most of these fluent speakers were older adults. Another 35 people understood or spoke the language somewhat. About 25 people were actively learning the language, including teenagers.
The report also mentioned that the First Nation had small reserves. For 20 years, one reserve did not have clean city water because of pollution. This made it hard to build homes and develop the community, so many people lived off the reserve.
Snuneymuxw History
Archaeologists have found signs of a Snuneymuxw winter village and burial site in what is now Departure Bay. This site is about 3,500 years old. In 2007, during construction, the remains of about 15 people were found. Later, more than 80 sets of remains were uncovered.
The late Chief Viola Wyse asked the government to protect this important site. The province then bought the land. In 2013, as part of an agreement with First Nations, this site was given to the Snuneymuxw. A Snuneymuxw spokesperson, Geraldine Manson, said it was rare to find such an undisturbed burial site in the Nanaimo area. Many other sites had been disturbed by building projects.
Another important historical site for the Snuneymuxw is where the old Moby Dick Hotel used to be in Nanaimo. This was once a Snuneymuxw village. It is located at the narrowest part of Newcastle Channel, which separates Newcastle Island from Nanaimo.
The Snuneymuxw First Nation is working with a company called Waterfront Holdings Ltd. on future plans for the waterfront. They also manage Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.
Nanaimo Indian Hospital
The Nanaimo Indian Hospital was a hospital for Indigenous patients. The Canadian government ran it on Snuneymuxw land from 1946 to 1967. These "Indian hospitals" were connected to the residential schools.
In 2021, many unmarked graves were found at the Kamloops Indian Residential School. This led other First Nations to start looking for unmarked graves at their own former residential school and hospital sites.
A group of people, including Steve Sxwithul'txw from the Penelakut First Nation, started a fundraising campaign. They wanted to help First Nations on Vancouver Island search for unmarked graves using special technology that does not disturb the ground. In September 2021, this group gave the Snuneymuxw First Nation $77,000. This money helps the First Nation search for possible unmarked graves around the former hospital grounds.
Snuneymuxw Territory and Land
The Snuneymuxw Territory is on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, including the Gulf Islands and the Fraser River in British Columbia. This area was central to the Coast Salish people.
The Snuneymuxw First Nation's traditional territory covers about 980 square kilometers. They also share about 1,040 square kilometers of traditional territory with other First Nations.
In March 2013, the Snuneymuxw First Nation received an extra 877 hectares of land near Mount Benson. This was part of a reconciliation agreement with the government. The goal was to provide new opportunities for forestry, which would create jobs and income for the Snuneymuxw.
As of 2012, the Snuneymuxw First Nation had six very small reserves. Before the 2013 agreement, their total reserve land was only 266 hectares. This was the smallest amount of reserve land per person in British Columbia. The community was divided into four small reserves along Nanaimo Harbour and the Nanaimo River, plus two tiny reserves on Gabriola Island. In 2013, two reserves at Nanaimo River were combined into one larger reserve called the Nanaimo River Reserve.
These small reserves are often oddly shaped and located. For example, Reserve 1 is in Nanaimo city, between a railroad track and the main highway. Three other reserves were along the Nanaimo River, but the river itself was not part of the reserve land. These small reserves are surrounded by the city of Nanaimo. For a long time, they did not have proper water and sewage systems, which made it hard to develop these areas.
How the Snuneymuxw are Governed
The Snuneymuxw First Nation is led by an elected Chief and Council. On December 7, 2013, John Gordon (Gord) Wesley was elected Chief. Five Councillors were also elected to serve for up to four years. Their elections follow the Snuneymuxw First Nation Election Code.
Snuneymuxw Population
The Snuneymuxw First Nation has a population of 1,663 people. About 65% of Snuneymuxw people live off their reserve lands.
Treaty Rights
The Snuneymuxw First Nation has a special treaty with the Crown (the government) that was signed before Canada became a country. This is the Treaty of 1854, one of the Douglas Treaties. This treaty gives them certain rights. In the 1960s, a court case called R. v. White and Bob confirmed that this treaty was valid and must be followed.
In 2012, Chief Doug White met with a UN Special Rapporteur (a UN expert). Chief White explained that the Canadian government had often failed to respect the 1854 Treaty during land discussions. The UN expert noted that Indigenous peoples in Canada often feel a strong distrust towards the government because treaty claims are not resolved.
In 1992, the Snuneymuxw First Nation made a specific land claim about a 32-hectare reserve in downtown Nanaimo. They said this land was illegally taken by the Crown in the 1880s. In 2003, the Crown agreed the claim was valid. After talks, they settled for $49,148,121. In 2016, the First Nation approved this agreement. This payment was the largest specific claim settlement for a First Nation in British Columbia by a lot. As part of the deal, the Snuneymuxw can also negotiate to add another 32 hectares of land to their reserve.
Community Development
Water and Sewage Systems
In 1992, the wells on Snuneymuxw First Nation Indian Reserve No. 2 were closed because the water was polluted. For 20 years, the community had to get water from trucks. In 2010, the city of Nanaimo planned a new water treatment plant. They needed land for it, and the Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Doug White III helped them get it.
The City of Nanaimo agreed to provide water to Reserve 2 as part of a larger agreement. The Snuneymuxw First Nation paid $500,000 for the project. This new water system connects Reserve No. 2 to Nanaimo’s water supply, giving them clean drinking water.
Chief Doug White III said that having safe drinking water was a "critical need" for his people. He explained that a lack of water and sewage systems was a big reason why much of the reserve had not been developed.
The city and the First Nation also started a special program to help Snuneymuxw workers learn how to maintain water systems. In 2012, Snuneymuxw workers began to learn from City of Nanaimo water crews. The goal is to help First Nations communities manage their own water systems.
Justice System
Like other First Nations, the Snuneymuxw used to have their own community system for dealing with problems and guiding behavior. This system was based on "restorative justice," which focuses on healing and repairing harm rather than just punishing. They believe parts of this system should be brought back.
Snuneymuxw Elder Bill Seward explained that their traditional system helped people heal. He said, "When you see people go wrong, our people had Elders that would heal that person and the white man way is punishing. They put him in jail. How did they come out? They come out a better criminal when they do come out of jail. And our way’s different, we heal people that go wrong." He believes the whole community needs to work together for this system to work again.
Images for kids
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Nanaimo town
