LANDS & ENVIRONMENT

Chawathil adopted Chawathil Land Code in 2016 through the Framework Agreement with First Nations Lands Advisory Board and First Nation Lands Management Resources Center.

The Framework Agreement supports First Nations transitioning away from the 44 lands-related sections of the Indian Act, and resuming the authority to govern their First Nation lands and environment through a community approved land code.

The Lands Department staff administer the land code and development laws to guide the activities on Chawathil Lands.

Chawathil’s environmental team seek to embody the words
“S’ólh téméxw te íkw’elò. Xyólhmet te mekw’ stám ít kwelát.”

Within the Lands Department, Environmental staff engage in environmental monitoring,
protection, and enhancement in a wide range of contexts, from Chawathil’s work to steward salmon and
other species, to industry referrals and environmental offence complaints.

Seen below: setting traps for fish survey; sedated Salish sucker being measured, weighed, photographed and marked to indicate where it was first found; drones in flight over wetlands, as used for
various survey, documentation, analysis, and mapping tasks; and a few of the other relations we encounter in our work.

Sthímiya (juvenile coho salmon) may stay for up to two years at Chawathil 4 before journeying to the Salish Sea. One of the greatest predictors of success for a salmon to return to spawn is how big it is when it leaves its natal waters. Teqáp (dams) built and maintained by sqelá:w (beaver) hold water in the wetland habitats sthímiya use during this important growth period.

Deep pools provided by sqelá:w are also vital to the endangered skwímeth (Salish sucker). Adult skwímeth are normally only found in waters deeper than 70 cm (27.5 inches). To understand salmon and other fish at Chawathil, we have to understand what the beavers are up to. Infrared capable trail cams help the team observe the often nocturnal activities of sqelá:w.

Chawathil Certified Land Code

What happens when an old land issue still doesn’t have a clear answer?

Follow 👀along with this short Legacy story scenario as we walk through one family’s example and how the Legacy Project can help.  

Watch 🎥 the story unfold and see how a Legacy matter might move from questions toward resolution. 

This is a fictional scenario created for educational purposes. Every Legacy matter is different.