Scia'new First Nation

The Sc'ianew First Nation or Becher Bay First Nation is a First Nations group, governed by a band governmental body of the same name. They are a party involved in the Douglas Treaties and are negotiating a modern treaty as a member of the Te'mexw Treaty Association along with the Malahat, Nanoose, Songhees, and T'Souke Nations. The Sc'ianew First Nation number 261 (as of March, 2020).[1][2]

Map of Beecher Bay First Nation tribal territory

Sc'ianew lands are located on southern Vancouver Island in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and include Beecher Bay, Fraser Island, Lamb Island, Long-neck Island, Twin Island, Village Island, and Whale Island.[3]

Languages

The name "Sc'ianew" (pronounced CHEA-nuh in English) comes from the Klallam word for Becher Bay, "xʷčiyánəxʷ."[4] It means "the place of the big fish."

The group recognizes four ancestral languages though not all are currently spoken. Historically, the predominant language was Hul’q’umi’num’, the downriver dialect of the Halkomelem Language.[5]

References

  1. Reconciliation, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and. "Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay) First Nation - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  2. "Beecher Bay". Te'mexw Treaty Association. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  3. "Home — Sc'ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay)". beecherbay.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  4. "Klallam Language". klallamlanguage.org. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  5. "The Halkomelem Language". www.ydli.org. Retrieved 2022-10-31.


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