Tsawwassen First Nation
Metro Vancouver | |
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[1] |
Tribal Council | |
Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council | |
Website | |
Tsawwassen First Nation |
This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2020) ) |
The Tsawwassen First Nation (
Overview
Like most First Nations people of the West Coast, the Tsawwassen lived in family groups and inhabited longhouses. They carved no totem poles but ornate house posts, masks, tools with carvings etc. Also they processed cedar fibers and goat hair into dresses and headgear. Also, the wooden building material, firewood, canoes and dresses. Using tidal traps, fishing, nets and harpoons they hunted fish, especially salmon. They also harvested oysters, crabs and other sea creatures. The salmon was considered a supernatural being, and therefore had to be hunted and eaten in a very particular way. The remains were returned to the sea in a private ceremony. Numerous species of birds were on the menu, such as ducks and loon. Land mammals such as moose, deer, black bear, and beaver were hunted along with marine mammals such as seals and sea lions. Edible plants such as camas and cranberries, along with medicinal plants, were harvested, traded, and exchanged.
The traditional Tsawwassen area ranged in the north east to the area around Pitt Lake, Pitt River to Pitt Meadows down to where the water in the Fraser River flows. It included Burns Bog and parts of New Westminster. From Sea Island to Galiano Island and joined Salt Spring, Pender and Saturna Island. North Eastwards came the Point Roberts peninsula added, then the area around the Serpentine and Nicomekl River.
Today, their territory has been reduced to a relatively small
Tsawwassen (
History
The oldest finds in the area of Tsawwassen First Nation settled by means of radiocarbon dated to about 2260 BC. Other sites such as Whalen Farm and Beach Grove dating back to the presence of Tsawwassen at least until the time of 400–200 BC.
Reserves, loss of land
In 1851, the last frontier settlements in the wake of
In 1958, the provincial government built the BC Ferries terminal in Tsawwassen for their ferries. For this purpose, a Tsawwassen First Nation long house was demolished. When the terminal was enlarged in 1973, 1976, and 1991, there were no consultations with the Tsawwassen peoples.
The Tsawwassen First Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council.
Treaty and land claims negotiations
The Tsawwassen, a
In January 2012, a "mega-mall" project was approved by the Tsawwassen First Nation, with 43 percent of the eligible voters taking part. Of that 43 percent who voted, 97 percent were in favor of the project. The mall is expected to create jobs and stimulate tourism for the community. The resulting Tsawwassen Mills mall, built by Ivanhoé Cambridge, opened on October 5, 2016.[9]
See also
- Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast
- Musqueam First Nation
- Kwantlen First Nation
- Lummi
- Semiahmoo First Nation
- Halkomelem (language)
- North Straits Salish
- Sto:lo
References
- ^ "Our Nation". Tsawwassen First Nation. Retrieved 2022-08-09.
- ^ Branch, Government of Canada; Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada; Communications. "Tsawwassen Final Agreement: General Overview". www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Tsawwassen Lands" (PDF). British Columbia. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ "TSAWWASSEN FIRST NATION BEGINNINGS" (PDF). Tsawwassen First Nation. 2019. Retrieved August 8, 2022.
- ^ "FAQ | BC Treaty Commission". www.bctreaty.ca. Retrieved 2022-12-22.
- ^ Mickleburgh, Rod (July 26, 2007). "Tsawwassen band backs historic urban treaty". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 24, 2016.
- ^ "TFN History and Timeline | Tsawwassen First Nation". tsawwassenfirstnation.com. Retrieved 2018-08-16.
- ^ "TFN Vision & Mandate | Tsawwassen First Nation". tsawwassenfirstnation.com. Retrieved 2018-08-18.
- ^ "Tsawwassen First Nation votes for mega-mall". The Globe and Mail. January 19, 2012. Retrieved October 24, 2016.