Cowichan Tribes
Encyclopedia
First Nations
First Nations is a term that collectively refers to various Aboriginal peoples in Canada who are neither Inuit nor Métis. There are currently over 630 recognised First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, roughly half of which are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. The...
government
First Nations Government (Canada)
The fundamental legal unit of government for Canadian First Nations is the band.-Band:A band is typically, but not always, composed of a single community. Many bands, especially in British Columbia, control multiple Indian reserves, that is, multiple parcels of land...
, located in and around the Cowichan Valley
Cowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form of the First Nations tribal name Quw'utsun.Communities include...
and Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
, it is the single largest band government in British Columbia.
When the band was created pursuant to the Indian Act
Indian Act
The Indian Act , R.S., 1951, c. I-5, is a Canadian statute that concerns registered Indians, their bands, and the system of Indian reserves...
, seven nearby peoples were forced to amalgamate into one "band
First Nations Government (Canada)
The fundamental legal unit of government for Canadian First Nations is the band.-Band:A band is typically, but not always, composed of a single community. Many bands, especially in British Columbia, control multiple Indian reserves, that is, multiple parcels of land...
." The Quamichan
Quamichan
Quamichan is a traditional nation of the Coast Salish people, commonly referred to by the English adaptation of Qu'wutsun as the Cowichan Indians, or First Nations, of the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, in the area of the city of Duncan, British Columbia...
/Kw’amutsun are the largest cultural group, but the nation also includes Clemclemaluts (L’uml’umuluts), Comiaken (Qwum’yiqun’), Khenipsen (Hinupsum), Kilpahlas (Tl’ulpalus), Koksilah (Hwulqwselu), and Somena
Somena
The Somena are one of several Hulquminum-speaking indigenous peoples living in the Cowichan Valley-Duncan region of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada....
(S’amuna’).
There are over 4,000 registered members; about half currently live on the Reserve.
Tribal area
The traditional territory of the Cowichan people covered the entire Cowichan ValleyCowichan Valley
The Cowichan Valley is a region around the Cowichan River and Cowichan Lake on Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. There is some debate as to the origin of the name Cowichan, which many believe to be an anglicized form of the First Nations tribal name Quw'utsun.Communities include...
, the surrounding region around Cowichan Lake, Shawnigan Lake
Shawnigan Lake
Shawnigan Lake is a lake on southern Vancouver Island, located to the west of Saanich Inlet and to the south of the Cowichan Valley region. It is the location of the village of Shawnigan Lake, British Columbia...
, and extended into the Gulf Islands
Gulf Islands
The Gulf Islands are the islands in the Strait of Georgia , between Vancouver Island and the mainland of British Columbia, Canada....
, and the Fraser River
Fraser River
The Fraser River is the longest river within British Columbia, Canada, rising at Fraser Pass near Mount Robson in the Rocky Mountains and flowing for , into the Strait of Georgia at the city of Vancouver. It is the tenth longest river in Canada...
. Lulu Island
Lulu Island
Lulu Island is the name of the largest island in the estuary of the Fraser River. The island makes up most of the City of Richmond, a major suburb of Vancouver, British Columbia...
, which is now the site of the Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport
Vancouver International Airport is located on Sea Island in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, about from Downtown Vancouver. In 2010 it was the second busiest airport in Canada by aircraft movements and passengers , behind Toronto Pearson International Airport, with non-stop flights daily to...
, and Steveston
Steveston, British Columbia
Steveston was originally a small town near Vancouver, British Columbia, but has since been absorbed into the city of Richmond, British Columbia....
in Richmond
Richmond, British Columbia
Richmond is a coastal city, incorporated in the Canadian province of British Columbia. Part of Metro Vancouver, its neighbouring communities are Vancouver and Burnaby to the north, New Westminster to the east, and Delta to the south, while the Strait of Georgia forms its western border...
, was once a very important traditional Cowichan Tribes fishing village.
The lower reaches of the Cowichan Valley, particularly the area stretching from the present location of Duncan
Duncan, British Columbia
Duncan is a city on southern Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada.-History:The community is named after William Chalmers Duncan . He arrived in Victoria in May 1862, then in August of that year he was one of the party of a hundred settlers which Governor Douglas took to Cowichan Bay...
down to Cowichan Bay (and including the lower Koksilah River), was heavily settled by the various Cowichan tribes.
Today, the total reserve area is currently 24 square kilometres (5,900 acres), made up of nine Reserves, with Core Traditional Territory is approximately 3,750 square kilometres (900,000 acres). The tribe comprises seven traditional villages (Kw’amutsun, Qwum’yiqun’, Hwulqwselu, S’amuna’, L’uml’umuluts, Hinupsum, Tl’ulpalus).
Governance
Governed by a Chief and 12 Councillors, within the framework of the Indian Act, Part of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty GroupHul’qumi’num Treaty Group
The Hul'qumi'num Treaty Group was founded in 1993 to negotiate a treaty with the Province of British Columbia and Government of Canada.-Members:The group is made up of 6000 members from the following First Nations:* Chemainus First Nation - Chemainus, BC...
. In Stage 4 (Agreement in Principle) of the Treaty Process. Tribes is also responsible for providing social programmes for Children and Families, Education, Health, Housing, and Social Development.
Tribal Owned Business
Cowichan Tribes currently owns and operates Khowutzun Development Corporation (KDC) group of companies, which includes the following subisdarys:- Khowutzun Mustimuhw Contractors Limited Partnership (KMCLP)
- Khowutzun Forest Services Limited Partnership (KFCLP)
- Khowutzun Millwork & Joinery Limited Partnership (KMJLP)
- Quw’utsun Cultural and Conference Centre (QCCC)
- Cherry Point Vineyards
Cowichan Tribes no longer own Cherry Point vineyard