First Nations Consultation
The CVRD covers an area of 3,473 km2 on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands of Thetis, Penelakut, and Valdes, between Malahat/Mill Bay and North Oyster. On the western edge of the region is the Pacific Ocean; the Salish Sea sits on the region's eastern border.
This vast region encompasses the unceded territory of many distinct First Nations that have occupied the lands and waters since time immemorial. Access to the lands and waters for which this Plan is written has been affected by the colonization, which forced the relocation of many First Nations onto reserve land and privileged the establishment of settlers.
The Cowichan Valley Regional District is in the traditional, unceded territories of the Cowichan Tribes, Penelakut Tribe, and the Ditidaht, Pacheedaht, Halalt, Stz'uminus, Ts'uubaa-asatx , Lyackson, Malahat, and Pauquachin First Nations.
ABOUT THE MODERNIZED OFFICIAL COMMUNITY PLAN
The CVRD is modernizing the draft Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas (OCP Bylaw 4373). This follows the adoption of the OCP for the Electoral Areas (Bylaw 4270) in 2021, which harmonized seven electoral area official community plans into one.
The modernized OCP sets out a vision for the electoral areas over the next twenty years consistent with Cowichan 2050. The Cowichan 2050 Regional Collaboration Framework was initiated by the CVRD in September 2017. A guiding aspiration of Cowichan 2050 is building strong, inclusive relationships, while reconciliations is an acknowledged commitment.
FIRST NATION ENGAGEMENT
Throughout the development of the harmonized and modernized Official Community Plan for the Electoral Areas Bylaw 4373, the CVRD has been engaging with First Nations.
The CVRD has been successful in receiving two grants from the Union of BC Municipalities to prepare complete community assessments for all CVRD Local Area Plans and engage with Malahat Nation & Ts’uubaa-asatx. This initiative began in 2023 and is ongoing.
For more information on the Complete Communities grant see the Local Area Plans page.
Treaty Settlement Update
The Te’mexw Treaty Association (TTA) is negotiating modern treaties on behalf of its five-member Nations:
- Malahat
- Beecher Bay (SC’IA⁄NEW)
- Songhees
- Snaw-Naw-As (Nanoose)
- T’Sou-ke
The Te'mexw Treaty negotiations are now in the final stage, Stage 5, of the BC Treaty Commission Treaty Process.
Learn more here: https://engage.gov.bc.ca/govtogetherbc/consultation/temexw-treaty-negotiations/
 | COWICHAN TRIBES The core traditional territory of the Quw’utsun peoples is 376,308 hectares (929,844 acres) of land on the southern half of Vancouver Island. Today, the total reserve area is 2,389 hectares (5,903 acres), made up of nine reserves, Cowichan Tribes is made up of seven traditional villages: Kwa’mutsun, Qw'umiyiqun, Xwulqw'selu, S’amuna’, Lhumlhumuluts', Xinupsun, and Til'ulpalus. As of March 2024, the total registered population of Cowichan Tribes was 5,517 people, making it the largest single First Nation Band in British Columbia. |
 | DITIDAHT FIRST NATION The core traditional territory of the Ditidaht people stretches from Cowichan Lake and Nitinat Lake, extending into the Pacific Rim Park Reserve between Bonilla Point and Pachena Point. The Ditidaht have villages from Pachena Bay to the west and Karleit (kalaayit, just east of Bonilla Point) to the east, three villages in Nettinaht Inlet, eleven fishing stations on the Nettinaht River, three stations on the Cowichan Lake, and one at Sguitz (Skutz Falls) on the Cowichan River itself. The Ditidaht people speak closely related dialects of a language called Nitinaht or Diitiidʔaatx̣. Ditidaht is one of three closely related languages (Nitinaht, Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth or Westcoast) forming the South Wakashan sub-group of the Wakashan Language Family. |
 | HALALT FIRST NATION The Halalt First Nation’s reserve lands total 165 hectares composed of two reserves across Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Halalt 2, which borders the Chemainus River, followed by Halalt Island 1 (Willy Island). The Halalt originate from the village of xeláltxw, which means ‘marked houses’ or ‘painted houses’, a reference to the fact that the house posts in this village were decorated. |
 | TS'UUBAA-ASATX - PEOPLE OF THE LAKE Ts’uubaa-asatx – People of the Lake Ts’uubaa-asatx’s traditional territory encompasses the entire Cowichan Lake watershed including the reserve that is the community core. The Ts’uubaa-asatx reserve lands total 42.7 hectares of land made up of one reserve near the mouth of the Cowichan River, on the northeastern shore of Cowichan Lake. There are approximately 30 people residing on reserve and many more wanting to come back home. The Nation is Land Code operational as of 2016. |
 | LYACKSON FIRST NATION Valdes Island is the centre of the Lyackson community. The Lyackson First Nation’s reserve lands total 744.6 hectares composed of three reserves on Valdes Island. There are 216 Lyackson First Nation members. The traditional language spoken by the Lyackson First Nation is Hul’q’umi’num’. |
 | MALAHAT NATION Malahat Nation’s reserve lands total 247.9 hectares composed of two reserves on Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Malahat 11 between Bamberton and Mill Bay. The Nation is Land Code operational as of 2019. Through its history, Malahat Nation owned and occupied several village sites and resource areas. Two significant village sites are Keya (near the mouth of Shawnigan Creek) and Ma'le-'h'xe'l' (located between Verdier Point and McPhail). |
 | PACHEEDAHT FIRST NATION The Pacheedaht First Nation is based on the south west coast of Vancouver Island. Pacheedaht territory includes the lands and waters along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island between Bonilla Point and Sheringham Point. The name "Pacheedaht" translates to English as "Children of the Sea Foam." Their reserve lands total 117.70 hectares. |
 | PAUQAUCHIN FIRST NATION - THE LAND OF CLIFFS AND BLUFFS Pauqauchin First Nation reserve lands total 330.40 hectares made up of three reserves on the south end of Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Cole Bay 3, on the edge of Coles Bay, on the Saanich peninsula. Pauquachin was originally part of the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) Nation, which also includes Tsawout, Tsartlip, and Tseycum. These bands share a common history and territory. Saanich First Nation settlements have been mostly concentrated on the western side of the Saanich Peninsula. Hatch Point Reserve # 3 is located within the CVRD. |
 | PENELAKUT TRIBE Penelakut Tribe reserve lands total 635.7 hectares of land, comprised of four reserves across Penelakut Island, the northwestern tip of Galiano Island, Tent Island and just south of Chemainus. The most populated reserve is Penelakut Island 7. Penelakut Tribe Tumuhw (Land) Code was operational as of February 2020. There are 1,006 Penelakut Tribe members living on and off-reserve. Penelakut comes from the Hul’qumi’num name, Spune’luxutth’, which means ‘log buried on the beach’. |
 | STZ'UMINUS FIRST NATION Stz’uminus First Nation are a Coast Salish People who have lived around the Salish Sea for thousands of years. Their reserve lands total 1270.9 hectares composed of four reserves across the east coast of Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Chemainus 13 between Ladysmith Bay and Kuleet Bay. Stz’uminus land code has been in effect since 2013. Stz’uminus First Nation has 1,300 members living on and off reserve. |
Who's Listening
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Cowichan Valley Regional District
