The Chawathil First Nation are situated in a resplendent mountain setting located in the Fraser Valley 140 km East of Vancouver, BC. The Chawathil people have lived in our present location for thousands of years. Our traditional territory once occupied much of what is now Hope and surrounding areas.
Our natural resources in the territory have sustained our people and way of life for centuries. We thrive on a communal lifestyle that respects the wisdom of our elders..
Chawathil are Sto:lo people or “river people” who depend upon the river and land for their survival and livelihood. The Sto:lo share a common language known as Halq’emeylem (Hal-ko-me-lem), of the Coast Salish language family. The people moved throughout the territory using the resources and land provided for fishing, hunting and gathering, to maintain their livelihood. Today, the Chawathil people still use these resources for economical and traditional purposes.