The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm people have lived in our traditional territory, known as the Coquitlam Watershed, and the surrounding areas, since before remembered time.
Archaeological findings have confirmed continuous occupation of our traditional territory for at least 9,000 years, or since the most recent ice age. Our traditional territory centers on the watershed of skʷƛ̓əma:ɬ x̌acaʔ (Coquitlam Lake), including the upper and lower skʷƛ̓əma:ɬ stál̕əw̓ (Coquitlam River), and over to the east side of Pitt Lake and either side of the lower Pitt River. To the west, the territory encompasses Mossum Creek and Port Moody Inlet over to Stoney Creek, the lands of Sapperton Heights, and the north arm of the Fraser River. Our southern territory extends from Barnston Island to Annacis Island and the immediate surrounds, including that portion of the Fraser uplands south of the Fraser River. These areas correspond to the following BC municipalities: Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, Burnaby, Surrey, New Westminster, the Village of Anmore and sections of the Provincial Agricultural Land Reserve. The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation has never ceded, surrendered, nor abandoned our rights and responsibilities to our traditional territory, and our title has never been relinquished.
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation has two reserves which are as follows:
We are kʷikʷəƛ̓əm, a distinct group of Stó:lō Peoples. Our name means “red fish up the river” which refers to a unique run of sockeye native that once thrived in the waters of our territory.
We draw our sovereignty from the Creator, the siʔém̓ x̌é∙l̕s (transformers), and šxʷʔə́y̓ə́m (deep-time histories), which granted us the responsibility to govern our territory in accordance with our customary laws.
Our traditional lands center on the watershed of skʷƛ̓əma:ɬ x̌acaʔ (Coquitlam Lake), including the upper and lower skʷƛ̓əma:ɬ stál̕əw̓ (Coquitlam River), and over to the east side of Pitt Lake and either side of the lower Pitt River. To the west, the territory encompasses Mossum Creek and Port Moody Inlet over to Stoney Creek, the lands of Sapperton Heights, and the north arm of the Fraser River. Our southern territory extends from Barnston Island to Annacis Island and the immediate surrounds, including that portion of the Fraser uplands south of the Fraser River.
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm has never ceded, surrendered, nor abandoned our rights and responsibilities to our territory, and our title has never been relinquished.
We honour all lands and beings, sustenance and spiritual, that live within, rely upon, and migrate through our territory. Today, as in the past, we are guided by sniw̓ (teachings) to responsibly use and care for the tə́məxʷ, qáʔ, and all that is cicəɬ and ƛiƛəp (lands, waters, and all that is above and below).
We seek to safeguard intergenerational knowledge, to remember, steward and protect our connection to all things living and spirited, and to work responsibly and in good faith with our neighbours.
Our land is central to every aspect of our life. As stewards and caretakers of our lands, we have the right to enjoy, access, revitalize, develop and benefit from the resources of our territory.
We have the right to ensure the growth and wellbeing of our community in all ways - including economically, socially, spiritually, and culturally, today and for generations to come. It is kʷθə sxʷteʔés kʷθə syəw̓én̓əɬ ct kʷsəwɬ ném̓s (the way of our ancestors).
The kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Government gives formal notice to the Government of Canada, the Government of British Columbia, regional and local governments and government associations, local economic interest associations, the general public, resource developers and users, knowledge-based holders and professional associations and educators, and their agents: that our inherent rights over our territory include the right to decide how our land will be used; the right to enjoy and occupy the land; the right to possess the land; the right to the economic benefits of the land; and the right pro-actively use and manage the land.
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm has the right to determine the conditions under which third parties may access or use our lands and resources. We have the right to grant or withhold free, prior and informed consent on any activity that may affect kʷikʷəƛ̓əm resources, rights, or title related to these resources.
Our rights include, but are not limited to, rights re-affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution of Canada, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and provincial and federal laws implementing the Declaration.
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm will respectfully enter into good faith dialogue with governments, resource users, developers, and the general public to support them in understanding their duty to give notice, inquire, engage, consult, and where appropriate accommodate, in a manner consistent with the standard of free, prior and informed consent and consultation case law.
kʷikʷəƛ̓əm will take appropriate steps to enforce our Aboriginal rights, including Aboriginal title and economic benefits arising from our all lands, waters, and resources.
This Declaration of Economic Land Rights has been adopted by resolution of the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Council on the date of December 18, 2020
Signed by the kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Council in Coquitlam BC on this 18th day of December 2020.
View Declaration of Land Rights