Tsawwassen First Nation facts for kids
Approximation of ancestral territory
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| People | Coast Salish |
|---|---|
| Treaty | Tsawwassen First Nation Final Agreement |
| Headquarters | Tsawwassen Lands |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Tsawwassen Lands |
| Land area | 7.24 km2 |
| Population (2019) | |
| On reserve | 215 |
| Total population | 491 |
| Tribal Council | |
| Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council | |
The Tsawwassen First Nation (Halkomelem: sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ, pronounced "st-SAW-wassen muh-STAY-yuh-hw") is a First Nations government. Their lands are located in the Greater Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada. They are close to the Fraser River and just north of the border with the United States near Point Roberts. The Tsawwassen First Nation has 491 members, and almost half of them live on their lands.
Contents
Life in the Past
Like many Coast Salish people on the West Coast, the Tsawwassen lived in family groups. They built large homes called longhouses. They did not carve tall totem poles, but they made beautiful carvings on house posts, masks, and tools. They also used cedar fibers and goat hair to make clothes and headwear. Wood was important for building, firewood, and making canoes.
The Tsawwassen people were skilled at hunting and fishing. They used tidal traps, nets, and harpoons to catch fish, especially salmon. They also gathered oysters, crabs, and other sea creatures. Salmon was very special to them, almost like a supernatural being. They had specific ways to hunt and eat salmon, and they would return the remains to the sea in a private ceremony. They also hunted many kinds of birds like ducks and loons, and sea animals like seals and sea lions. Land animals such as moose, deer, black bears, and beavers were hunted during certain seasons. They also gathered plants like Camassia and cranberries, and medicinal plants. They traded these items with other groups.
The traditional Tsawwassen territory was very large. It stretched from Pitt Lake and Pitt River in the northeast, down to where the Fraser River flows. It included areas like Burns Bog and parts of New Westminster. Their territory also reached from Sea Island to Galiano Island, and included Salt Spring, Pender, and Saturna Island. It also covered the Point Roberts peninsula and the areas around the Serpentine and Nicomekl River.
Today, their main territory is a smaller area in Delta, right by the ocean. It is located between the Tsawwassen ferry terminal and the Roberts Bank Superport. They also own some lands near Boundary Bay and the Fraser River.
The name Tsawwassen (Halkomelem: sc̓əwaθən məsteyəxʷ) means "land facing the sea." The nearby town of Tsawwassen and the Tsawwassen ferry terminal are named after the First Nation.
Tsawwassen History
The oldest signs of people living in the Tsawwassen area date back to about 2260 BC. Other ancient sites show that the Tsawwassen have been present in the area since at least 400–200 BC.
Changes to Land and Territory
In 1851, new border settlements happened because of the Oregon Treaty of 1846 between the United States and Great Britain. This meant that a part of the Tsawwassen territory, Point Roberts, became part of the U.S. state of Washington.
In 1858, the first road in British Columbia was built from Tsawwassen Beach to Fort Langley. In 1871, a small reserve (a special area of land set aside for First Nations) was given to the Tsawwassen people. This reserve was made larger in 1874 to about 490 acres (198 hectares). Today, it covers about 717 acres (290 hectares). In 1914, Chief Harry Joe asked the McKenna–McBride Royal Commission to review their reserve lands, but his request was not approved. Despite these challenges, young Tsawwassen First Nation members joined the Canadian Military in World War I and World War II.
In 1958, the government built the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen. To do this, a Tsawwassen First Nation longhouse was torn down. The terminal was made bigger in 1973, 1976, and 1991, but the Tsawwassen people were not asked for their opinion during these expansions.
The Tsawwassen First Nation is part of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council, which is a group of First Nations working together.
Modern Treaties and Self-Governance
The Tsawwassen are one of the few First Nations in British Columbia to complete a modern treaty. This process is called the British Columbia Treaty Process. Other nations that have completed treaties include the Tla'amin Nation and the Maa-nulth First Nations. The Nisga'a also have self-government, but their agreement was made before the formal BC Treaty Process began.
The Tsawwassen treaty agreement allowed for the expansion of the Roberts Bank Superport. This expansion was expected to create jobs for Tsawwassen members. Some people had concerns about the treaty, but it was approved by Tsawwassen members in July 2007. The treaty increased the size of the Tsawwassen reserve by 400 hectares. It also provided $16 million in cash and $36 million for community programs. Most importantly, it gave the Tsawwassen First Nation the right to govern themselves again. It also set aside a portion of the Fraser River salmon catch for the Tsawwassen. In return, the Tsawwassen agreed to give up other land claims and eventually pay taxes.
On April 3, 2009, after 14 years of talks, the Tsawwassen First Nation officially put their Final Agreement into action. They became self-governing. In 2009, they held their first election under their new government, replacing the old Indian Act system. The Tsawwassen First Nation also became the first First Nation to be a full member of the Metro Vancouver Regional District, which is a group of local governments in the Vancouver area.
In January 2012, the Tsawwassen First Nation approved a large shopping mall project. About 43 percent of eligible voters participated, and 97 percent of those who voted were in favor. The community hoped the mall would create jobs and bring visitors. The mall, called Tsawwassen Mills, was built by Ivanhoé Cambridge and opened on October 5, 2016.
See Also
