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Hamilton Spectator
01-06-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
With land transfer deal, once-displaced Lyackson First Nation prepares to return home
After fighting to reestablish its main village site for more than four generations, the Lyackson First Nation is mapping out a new and hopeful future. The 'Vancouver Island' community of roughly 230 people has regained ownership of a 312-hectare land parcel alongside Cowichan Tribes — building on decades of advocacy and work to regain what was lost during colonization. 'This village site will forever change the trajectory of the Leey'qsun Mustimuhw for our community today and future generations,' said Lyackson Chief Laxele'wuts'aat Chief Shana Thomas on May 22. 'We have a lot of work to do to prepare, but our community is ready to take on that work.' Traditionally, Lyackson's winter village T'eet'qe' had sat at the mouth of the Quw'utsun and Xwulqw'selu Sta'lo' (Cowichan and Koksilah rivers). Though the First Nation also had reserve land on nearby Leey'qsun (Valdes) Island, there was no ferry service, electricity or running water, so Lyackson members had eventually moved off. For years, the small First Nation endured physical and cultural disconnection, living scattered in nearby communities. During this separation, Lyackson has awaited and advocated for the return of the culturally-important lands that were historically used for gathering, harvesting and more. Now, Lyackson's moment has finally come. The transfer is now complete on the land parcel, which the province bought from Mosaic Forest Management for $8.55 million. In May of 2024 , then-Chief Pahalicktun — Laxele'wuts'aat's uncle — walked slowly to a podium as the community gathered to sign an incremental treaty agreement with Cowichan Tribes and the province. For much of his life, Pahalicktun had pushed for the establishment of a suitable land base for Lyackson members, but his advocacy had largely gone ignored. That day, Pahalicktun made the historic announcement to the audience of Lyackson members and supporters that had gathered on folding chairs under the white market tents. Flanked by his niece and Lyackson First Nation councillors, he thanked the premier and other politicians in attendance, acknowledged the resilience of the community's Elders and noted those who had also worked on the land deal over the years. Then he looked up from his notes. 'Yes, it's been a long journey,' he said slowly. 'Thirty years. It's enough.' At the signing, Pahalicktun also announced his retirement and said his niece Laxele'wuts'aat would take over as the next hereditary chief of the First Nation. Under her leadership — alongside an all-woman elected council — Lyackson released an action plan in January that includes housing, a health centre, gathering place, graveyard and administration offices. But beyond being just a piece of property, this land will be a home for the community. Despite the challenges of displacement, there's a 'silver lining' in that now, the community can build exactly what they want in their new village from the ground up, said Thomas. The land transfer, completed on May 22, is described as an 'example of perseverance and partnership in the province's reconciliation journey' in a statement by Christine Boyle , Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation. During all his years of trying to secure a homeland, Pahalicktun recalled how he was constantly told by the government that the First Nation's land problem was 'a treaty issue.' Lyackson are part of the Hul'q'umi'num Treaty Group and are currently in Stage 5 treaty negotiations. 'I told them, this isn't a treaty issue. This is a social need,' he told IndigiNews. For decades he struggled to be taken seriously. But that attitude shifted when Murray Rankin, then-minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, declared that Lyackson's plight was a matter of human rights at the B.C. Cabinet and First Nations Leaders' Gathering in 2022. 'Every single meeting, he would talk about being the homeless First Nation. 'Where am I going to bury my people? We have no land,'' said Rankin. 'The plea was so poignant that I kept saying to my deputy minister, 'We've got to figure this out.' I mean, it's going on far too long. He's been at it for decades.' One of the most difficult parts of the decades-long journey was dealing with questions from families around where to lay their loved ones to rest and from Elders about whether they would have a home before they died, said Pahalicktun. 'My dear mother, who has been gone now for over 10 years, made that same comment to me. She said, 'I'm talking to you as the chief. I'm not talking to you as my son. I want to know if I'm going to have land before I die,'' he said. 'That's always weighed heavy on me, because we've lost so many of our Elders that made those comments. All I could say to them was, 'I'm trying my best.'' Now, one of the First Nation's top priorities is to build a community cemetery. As the president of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs, Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said that land deals like Lyackson's broadly represent a new beginning and an 'upward trajectory' for First Nations in the province. 'We are becoming an unstoppable force, a force that's going to redress a lot of the terrible things that have happened to our people for many, many generations and I'm so proud, I'm so honoured to be part of that movement, to be on the right side of history,' Phillip said at the land ceremony last year. And Thomas is part of that trajectory. Whereas Pahalicktun carried himself with a quiet dignity and wisdom, 'Shana was always the fire,' said Phillip. 'She was the fighter. She'd jump up and take the floor with such great passion about why this work was so important and why it was the right path.' This characterization is fairly accurate, Thomas said with a laugh. Finding a balance between these different but complimentary styles of leadership is part of her unique journey moving forward, she added. 'I'm the rabble rouser. I'm the one that kind of bangs the table and has a different approach,' she said. 'So now in this role, having to balance that quiet dignity obligation with that fire, that's a bit of a challenge for me right now. But I'm sure it'll get easier with time, right?' Though advocating for her First Nation can be a high stakes endeavour, those negotiations now take place in meeting rooms instead of on a battlefield, said Thomas. 'Today's war is a paper war,' she said. Given a war chief's name — Laxele'wuts'aat — part of her responsibility to her community has been to pursue a colonial education to ensure there are 'all the tools at our disposal' for success, she said. Thomas is currently completing her doctorate in social science at Royal Roads University and holds a master's degree in Indigenous governance. Politics has always been widely discussed among Thomas's relatives — she comes from a long line of hereditary chiefs through her grandmother and grandfather's sides of the family. 'I don't know that I've ever turned my mind to me being the hereditary chief, but just knowing the importance of the hereditary chieftainship has been ingrained within my family line,' she said. As the First Nation's lead negotiator on the land agreement, Shana said that after decades of Pahalicktun's efforts to secure a suitable land base for the nation on 'Vancouver Island,' it was the province that finally 'rose to the challenge' and did something about it. One of the reasons for Lyackson's lengthy land struggles was due to the lack of services at the three reserves on Leey'qsun Island — T'a'at'ka7 , Th'a'xel and Th'xwe'ksen. These reserves comprise about a third of the island, which sits 40 kilometres southwest of 'Vancouver.' This is what caused the community to scatter, said Thomas. 'This whole situation was created because the federal Crown refused to provide the necessities of life for the Lyackson people to reside on their Indian reserves,' she said. 'Canada was completely comfortable with my community being displaced for four generations. It's British Columbia that rose to the challenge and said, 'Nope, this isn't acceptable in this day and age, and we need to do something about it.'' The community wasn't eligible for federal funding because it had no reserve land on 'Vancouver Island,' and 'Canada' also wouldn't give Lyackson the funds to develop Leey'qsun Island, said Ernie Elliott (Hun'cow'iyus). Elliott is a Quw'utsun member who worked as a local government advisor for the Department of Indian Affairs in the 1970s. The way funding was allocated back then 'pitted one band against another,' said Elliott. 'Sitting in a room with a pile of money in the middle, that we're all fighting over.' What got them to the end game with this piece of land, said Thomas, was the collaboration and deep commitment between the provincial government and both Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes, which have agreed to hold the lands in partnership until the lands are divided into equal and separate pieces. The coming together of these First Nations is incredibly significant, says anthropologist Brian Thom, a professor at the University of Victoria who has worked with the community on a variety of research projects. Historically, colonial governments and Indian agents worked to break down the connections between Hul'q'umi'num speaking communities like Lyackson and Cowichan, pushed members onto reserves and 'separated these very tightly knit families,' he said. 'So now Cowichan is like, 'Yeah, we recognize that history. That was a long time ago, but we still welcome you as relatives and neighbors, and we'll share with you.' It shifts the internal political discourse that's happening in these communities.' Quw'utsun member Bubba Qwulshemut — whose mother was one of the last people to live on Leey'qsun Island full time — agreed with this sentiment. 'We're all related to them, even going out to the West Coast. So, for us to be doing that hand in hand with them wouldn't ever be a question. If there's any way we could help each other, we would do it,' he said. 'We're there for each other. It's just something that we do.' Renewing these pre-contact kinship ties with Quw'utsun members is the foundation of their homecoming and is at the heart of the new life the communities will build on the land together, said Thomas. Using what she describes as an aggressive timeline, Thomas anticipates the community will be able to announce the new village site by spring of next year. The First Nation has released an action plan, and next steps include completing a housing needs assessment, confirming a community master plan and developing the community's economic development corporation. Qwulshemut, a Red Seal plumber and tradesman experienced in sustainable building techniques, solar energy and geothermal technology, said his vision for the new village is one that is self-sufficient and uses green energy. He also hopes that the use of that same technology might help establish residents back on Leey'qsun Island one day as well. 'I'd give it anything to be able to live out on that island,' he said with a laugh. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? 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CBC
23-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
Vancouver Island land returned to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes
The British Columbia government says the return of the Vancouver Island lands historically used by First Nations for gathering and harvesting represents a reconciliation landmark. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation says in a statement that the 312-hectare land parcel is worth about $8.6 million. Lyackson Hereditary Chief Shana Thomas says the land is a former village site and the community has been fighting for its re-establishment over four generations. The government had purchased the land from Mosaic Forest Management, and Thomas says the return would not have been possible without the company being a "willing seller." The incremental treaty agreement on the return of the land near Skutz Falls, a few kilometres southeast of Lake Cowichan, was struck in May last year, with a ceremonial signing attended by Premier David Eby. Under the agreement, the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes will hold the lands in partnership until there's a plan to divide them and add the land to each Nation's reserve holdings. Indigenous Relations Minister Christine Boyle called it an "incredible achievement" for both communities. "The collaborative approach taken to identify the lands for transfer is an example of perseverance and partnership in the province's reconciliation journey with both Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes," she said. Chief Cindy Daniels of the Cowichan Tribes says the agreement with the Lyackson First Nation was an important demonstration of shared values.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Vancouver Island land returned to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes
The Knowledge Totem pole carved by Coast Salish artist Cicero August and his sons Darrell and Doug August of the Cowichan Tribes stands tall on the front lawn of the legislature at Victoria, B.C., on May 8, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito
Toronto Star
22-05-2025
- Business
- Toronto Star
Vancouver Island land returned to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes
VICTORIA - A stretch of culturally significant land in the Cowichan Valley has been returned to the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes communities. The British Columbia government says the return of the Vancouver Island lands historically used by First Nations for gathering and harvesting represents a reconciliation landmark. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation says in a news release the 312-hectare land parcel is worth about $8.6 million. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Lyackson Hereditary Chief Shana Thomas says in the release that the land is a former village site and the community has been fighting for its re-establishment over four generations. The government had purchased the land from Mosaic Forest Management, and Thomas says the return would not have been possible without the company being a 'willing seller.' The incremental treaty agreement on the return of the land near Skutz Falls, a few kilometres southeast of Lak Cowichan, was struck in May last year, with a ceremonial signing attended by Premier David Eby. Under the agreement, the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes will hold the lands in partnership until there's a plan to divide it and add the land to each Nation's reserve holdings. Indigenous Relations Minister Christine Boyle called it an 'incredible achievement' for both communities. 'The collaborative approach taken to identify the lands for transfer is an example of perseverance and partnership in the province's reconciliation journey with both Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes,' she said. Chief Cindy Daniels of the Cowichan Tribes says the agreement with the Lyackson First Nation was an important demonstration of shared values. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
22-05-2025
- Business
- Winnipeg Free Press
Vancouver Island land returned to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes
VICTORIA – A stretch of culturally significant land in the Cowichan Valley has been returned to the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes communities. The British Columbia government says the return of the Vancouver Island lands historically used by First Nations for gathering and harvesting represents a reconciliation landmark. The Ministry of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation says in a news release the 312-hectare land parcel is worth about $8.6 million. Lyackson Hereditary Chief Shana Thomas says in the release that the land is a former village site and the community has been fighting for its re-establishment over four generations. The government had purchased the land from Mosaic Forest Management, and Thomas says the return would not have been possible without the company being a 'willing seller.' The incremental treaty agreement on the return of the land near Skutz Falls, a few kilometres southeast of Lak Cowichan, was struck in May last year, with a ceremonial signing attended by Premier David Eby. Under the agreement, the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes will hold the lands in partnership until there's a plan to divide it and add the land to each Nation's reserve holdings. Indigenous Relations Minister Christine Boyle called it an 'incredible achievement' for both communities. 'The collaborative approach taken to identify the lands for transfer is an example of perseverance and partnership in the province's reconciliation journey with both Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes,' she said. Chief Cindy Daniels of the Cowichan Tribes says the agreement with the Lyackson First Nation was an important demonstration of shared values. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 22, 2025.
