The Tla'amin First Nation (

Comox language The Comox language () is a Coast Salish language historically spoken in the northern Georgia Strait region, spanning the east coast of Vancouver Island and the northern Sunshine Coast and adjoining inlets and islands. More specifically, was tra ...

: ɬəʔamɛn), formerly Sliammon Indian Band or Sliammon First Nation, is a

First Nations First nations are indigenous settlers or bands. First Nations, first nations, or first peoples may also refer to: Indigenous groups *List of Indigenous peoples *First Nations in Canada, Indigenous peoples of Canada who are neither Inuit nor Mé ...

self governing nation whose lands and traditional territories are located on the upper Sunshine Coast in southwestern

British Columbia British Columbia is the westernmost Provinces and territories of Canada, province of Canada. Situated in the Pacific Northwest between the Pacific Ocean and the Rocky Mountains, the province has a diverse geography, with rugged landscapes that ...

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

. The Tla'amin are closely related to the

Klahoose The ƛoʔos Klahoose are one of the three groups comprising the ''ʔayʔaǰuθəm'' Tla'Amin or Mainland Comox. The other two divisions of this once-populous group are the χʷɛmaɬku Homalco and Sliammon (which is a corruption of "Tla A' ...

and

Homalco The Homalco First Nation (Comox language: Xwémalhkwu, also spelled χʷɛmaɬku) is a First Nations government located in Bute Inlet near the upper Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. The Homalco are also known, with their neighbours t ...

peoples and have shared their adjoining territories; formerly all three as well as K'omoks were grouped collectively as the Mainland Comox due to their shared language. They have been part of the Coast Salish indigenous peoples of the western coast of Canada since ancient times. The territory of the Tla'amin people extends from the vicinity of Stillwater and the northern part of Texada Island, northward along the Malaspina and Gifford Peninsulas to the southern area of Homfray Channel and part of Cortes Island, including also the smaller off-shore islands such as Hernando, Savary and Harwood as well as Powell, Goat and Haslam Lakes. Their ancestral tongue is ''ʔayʔaǰuθəm'' (Ay-A-Ju-Thum) which is shared with the Klahoose, Homalco & K'omoks peoples. Historically, the Tla'amin, Klahoose and Homalco were all one people with no borders or separation. The three communities shared the village of ''q̓aq̓ɛyq̓ay'' (Grace Harbour) during the winter months and practiced the winter ceremonies that were held by the Coast Salish People. The use of Sxwayxwey masks, ceremonial songs and dances and potlatching and feasting were common here. Today, Tla'amin's main village lies at t̓išosəm which translates to 'milky waters from herring spawn'. The Nation has over 1100 registered members and about half reside on Tla'amin lands. The community has been growing over the years and include the brand new Tla'amin Governance House, A Health Centre, Ahms Tah Ow school, Chi-Chuy (Daycare/Pre-School), Two Soccer Fields, Tla'amin Salish Centre (gymnasium used as the community hall), Development Corporation offices and more.

History

The Tla'amin people have thousands of years of history on the lands in which they call home. Through their connection to the land, the Tla'amin have a rich culture that has been passed down through generations of learning. The Tla'amin people are a part of the greater Northern Coast Salish peoples which also include the ƛoʔos (Klahoose), χʷɛmaɬku (Homalco) & K'omoks. Other traditional village sites occupied by the Tla'amin include: * toqʷanan - Theodosia Inlet * toxʷnač - Okeover Inlet * p̓aq̓iʔaǰɩm - Maple Village, Cortes Island * ʔagayqsən - Ahgykson Island (Harwood) * qʷoqʷnɛs - Stillwater * χakʷum - Grief Point * t̓atlaχʷnač - Blubber Bay

Treaty & Self Government

In 1994, the Sliammon Indian Band submitted a Statement of Intent to begin negotiations with the Government of Canada, and province of British Columbia to establish a treaty. The process lasted 22 years for the Tla'amin Nation, who are now a self-governing treaty nation. 1994: Sliammon enters Stage One of the BC Treaty Process with a Statement of Intent. 1996: Sliammon enters into Stage Two of the BC Treaty Process. 1996: Sliammon enters Stage Three of the BC Treaty Process. 2001: A community vote was held in 2001 on an agreement in principle. This was a split vote – 51% voted no while 49% voted yes. 2003: Again the community voted in 2003 on an agreement in principle and this passed by 63% yes and 37% no. 2011: Tla'amin, Canada and BC Initial Final Agreement 2014: The Tla'amin Final Agreement was given

royal assent Royal assent is the method by which a monarch formally approves an act of the legislature, either directly or through an official acting on the monarch's behalf. In some jurisdictions, royal assent is equivalent to promulgation, while in othe ...

in British Columbia on March 14, 2014. June 16, 2012: Initial vote on the Tla'amin Final Agreement blocked by protesters. April 5, 2016: At midnight, the Tla'amin Nation became a self-governing nation after the implementation of the Tla'amin Final Agreement. The Tla'amin Final Agreement was given

in British Columbia on March 14, 2014. The Sliammon First Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council. Their offices are located in the town of Powell River.

References

External links

Sliammon First Nation websiteNaut'sa Mawt Tribal Council websiteSliammon Treaty Society website
* {{Authority control Coast Salish governments Sunshine Coast (British Columbia) K'omoks

History

Treaty & Self Government

See also

References

External links