Home Who we are who we are

We are a Coast Salish people who speak the Hul'íqumi'ínum lanquage. We have occupied the eastern shores of south-central Vancouver Island for more than 5,000 years. Our exclusive traditional territory comprises more than 98,000 hectares and extends from several kilometres north of Neck Point to Boat Harbour in the south, Gabriola Island and other small islands to the east and the western reaches of the Nanaimo River watershed. We also have an additional 104,000 hectares of non-exclusive traditional territory that we share with other First Nations.

Today we live on four small reserves on the shores of Nanaimo Harbour and Nanaimo River. The reserves assigned to us were and remain the smallest reserves per capita in British Columbia. Today our population is approx. 1,300 with 65% of our membership living off reserve in the surrounding cities of Nanaimo, Victoria, Vancouver and Seattle.

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Community Information

SNUNEYMUXW NEWS

Economic Development

Governance is key to the independence, self-determination and dignity of the Snuneymuxw. For thousands of years, Snuneymuxw ancestors governed themselves and their Territory. The longhouse, land, language and laws were all vital parts of Snuneymuxw government. The Snuneymuxw principles for a return to self-government state that it will:

  • Be modern but based on traditional laws and values.
  • Have a written constitution created and voted upon by Snuneymuxw citizens.
  • Protect the interests of future generations.
  • Be fully accountable to Snuneymuxw citizens and, where appropriate, to third parties affected by Snuneymuxw government decisions.
  • Have jurisdiction over a wide range of matters like health, education, language, heritage and culture, justice, land-use planning, environmental protection and economic development.
  • Cooperate with local governments and harmonize laws and policies.
PROTOCOL AGREEMENT WITH THE CITY OF NANAIMO 2005 [PDF]
FOUNDRY SITE AGREEMENT 2006 [PDF]
SOUTH NANAIMO LANDS PRESENTATION 2007 [PDF]

Newcastle Island Provincial Marine Park

NEWCASTLE ISLAND PROVINCIAL MARINE PARK is part of Snuneymuxw First Nation Traditional Territory. Archaeological evidence, such as the large number of shell middens, burial sites, and culturally modified trees, indicate that the Snuneymuxw people have used Newcastle Island for many thousands of years.

The Snuneymuxw have many stories about the Island. One story tells how Haals, the transformer, moved about the land and turned animals and people into stone. Today one can see examples of this in the rock formations along the shoreline. The Snuneymuxw also consider this island a sacred place as it was traditionally used for spiritual training. Young athletes were brought to the island to train for foot racing and canoe pulling. VISIT NEWCASTLE ISLAND

 






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