Kwikwetlem First Nation

The Kwikwetlem First Nation, also known as the Coquitlam Indian Band, is the band government of the Kwikwetlem, a Sto:lo people living in the Coquitlam area of British Columbia, Canada. They traditionally speak the Downriver dialect of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, one of the Salishan family of languages. The name Kwikwetlem (Halkomelem: kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) refers to "red fish up the river".[3]

Kwikwetlem First Nation
Band No. 560
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm
Approximate ancestral territory
PeopleKwikwetlem
Sto꞉lo
TreatyNone[Note 1]
HeadquartersCoquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1, Coquitlam
ProvinceBritish Columbia
Land
Main reserveCoquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1
Other reserve(s)
  • Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 2
Land area0.84 km2
Population (2021)
On reserve55[1]
Total population123[2]
Government
ChiefEd Hall
Council size3
Council
  • George Chaffee
  • John Peters
Website
Kwikwetlem First Nation

The Nation is made up of two reserves, a small 2.6-hectare site near the mouth of the Coquitlam River where it drains into the Fraser River, and a much larger 82-hectare site approximately 2.5 km north. About 36% of all Kwikwetlem members live on Coquitlam No. 1, 41% live elsewhere in Canada, and roughly 23% reside throughout the United States.[2][4]

Government

The band is led by an elected council, with the current term running from April 1, 2019, to March 27, 2023:[5]

  • Chief: Ed Hall
  • Councillor: George Chaffee
  • Councillor: John Peters

Geography

Historically, the Kwikwetlem's territory covered and extended a moderate distance beyond the Coquitlam River and Pitt River watersheds. Today, there are two Indigenous Reserves under the administration of the Kwikwetlem First Nation.[6]

Coquitlam 1

Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1 (Halkomelem: slakəyánc, lit. 'young sockeye') is the main reserve for the Kwikwetlem Nation, housing its administrative offices and all of its on-reserve population. It is situated at an ancient village site. It has an area of 6.5 acres (2.63 ha).

Coquitlam 2

Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 2 (Halkomelem: setɬamékmən, lit. 'when the tide is high we go') is the secondary reserve of the Kwikwetlem Nation. It is currently subject of a process of having a business park developed on the site.[7] Making up the vast majority of the total reserve land, it has an area of approximately 200 acres (80.94 ha).

Notes
  1. The Kwikwetlem Nation's ancestral territory has never been ceded, surrendered, nor abandoned.

References
  1. Government of Canada, Statistics Canada (February 9, 2022). "Profile table, Census Profile, 2021 Census of Population - Coquitlam 1, Indian reserve (IRI) [Census subdivision], British Columbia;Coquitlam 2, Indian reserve (IRI) [Census subdivision], British Columbia". www12.statcan.gc.ca. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. "Our People". Kwikwetlem First Nation. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  3. "History and Culture". Kwikwetlem.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  4. "Location". Kwikwetlem.com. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  5. "Chief and Council". Kwikwetlem.com. Archived from the original on April 25, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2009.
  6. "Our Territory". Kwikwetlem First Nation. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  7. Deryl. "Projects". KFNE. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
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