Sq’éwqel | Seabird Island First Nation
Seabird Island First Nation is a Coast Salish Indigenous community situated in southwestern British Columbia, near Agassiz.
Overview
Last Updated 2026-03-27 14:54:23 UTCBand Council
JAMES HARRIS
Chief
MARCIA PETERS
Councillor
ALEXIS GRACE
Councillor
CHAUDINE FISHER
Councillor
ASHLEY BOBB
Councillor
WILLOW WALKER
Councillor
RODNEY PETERS
Councillor
SALLY-MAY HOPE
Councillor
PAUL ANDREW
Councillor
Administrative Contacts
Financial Overview
SEABIRD ISLAND BAND FINANCIAL SUMMARY
Fiscal Year 2024-2025 (Ending March 31, 2025)
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DISCLAIMER: This financial summary was generated using artificial intelligence
based on publicly available audited financial statements and has been reviewed
by a human analyst. While care has been taken to ensure accuracy, users should
verify critical information against the original audited financial statements
prepared by MNP LLP.
================================================================================
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Seabird Island Band generated total revenue of $67,690,932 in fiscal 2024-2025,
representing a 2.8% increase from the prior year. The Band achieved an annual
surplus of $16,098,298, down 40.3% from the exceptional prior year surplus of
$26,919,729. Cash position decreased to $40,457,410 from $43,434,760, while net
financial assets decreased to $52,414,189 from $54,149,986. Investment in
Nation business entities increased substantially to $33,493,033 from
$21,276,646, reflecting earnings of $1,610,713 from business partnerships.
Long-term debt increased to $11,835,206 from $11,019,761, primarily due to BC
Housing loans of $1,332,339 for housing projects. Deferred revenue increased
dramatically to $15,107,233 from $5,901,992, driven by $3,220,000 from
Environment Canada funding. Accumulated surplus reached $118,128,095 from
$101,942,485, demonstrating continued financial strength and growth.
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FINANCIAL POSITION
Total Assets: $151,094,721
- Financial Assets: $85,380,815 (includes Cash: $40,457,410)
- Accounts Receivable: $8,530,824
- Portfolio Investments: $2,557,944
- Investment in Nation Business Entities: $33,493,033
- Inventory for Resale: $276,886
- Funds Held in Trust: $64,718
- Tangible Capital Assets: $65,558,623
- Inventories Held for Use: $18,686
- Prepaid Expenses: $136,597
Total Liabilities: $32,966,626
- Accounts Payable and Accruals: $5,908,618
- Deferred Revenue: $15,107,233
- Long-term Debt: $11,835,206
- Capital Lease Obligations: $115,569
Net Financial Assets: $52,414,189 (down 3.2% from prior year)
Accumulated Surplus: $118,128,095 (up 15.9% from prior year)
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REVENUE & OPERATIONS
Total Revenue: $67,690,932 (up 2.8% from prior year)
Major Revenue Sources:
- Indigenous Services Canada: $17,484,095 (25.8%)
- Economic Activity and Other Income: $15,003,513 (22.2%)
- Other Federal Funding: $10,223,772 (15.1%)
- First Nation Health Authority: $7,676,768 (11.3%)
- Province of British Columbia: $5,116,008 (7.6%)
- Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation: $3,256,564 (4.8%)
- Investment Income: $2,661,332 (3.9%)
- First Nation Education Steering Committee: $2,559,394 (3.8%)
- Earnings from Nation Business Entities: $1,610,713 (2.4%)
- Rental Income: $1,612,158 (2.4%)
- Sto:lo Nation: $586,626 (0.9%)
Total Expenditures: $51,592,634 (up 32.5% from prior year)
Major Program Expenditures:
- Health and Social Development: $20,168,309 (39.1%)
- Education: $11,667,187 (22.6%)
- Capital Projects: $5,228,252 (10.1%)
- Lands and Government Affairs: $4,918,531 (9.5%)
- Public Works: $3,318,337 (6.4%)
- Reserves and Other: $2,198,505 (4.3%)
- Administration: $2,123,380 (4.1%)
- Housing: $1,656,926 (3.2%)
- Economic Development: $313,207 (0.6%)
Annual Surplus: $16,098,298 (down 40.3% from prior year)
Operating Margin: 23.8%
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KEY FINANCIAL METRICS
- Financial Assets to Liabilities Ratio: 2.59:1
- Debt-to-Assets Ratio: 7.8%
- Self-Generated Revenue: 25.3% of total (excluding federal transfers)
- Cash Reserves: 9.4 months of operating expenses
- Business Entity Profits: $1,610,713 from partnerships including Stqo:ya
Construction LP, Seabird Island Forestry LP, Sqewqel Development Corporation
LP, and Sqewqel Gas Bar LLP
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CHIEF & COUNCIL REMUNERATION
Name Position Remuneration Expenses Total
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
James Harris Chief $79,983 $9,130 $89,113
Paul Andrew Councillor $37,616 $6,207 $43,823
Willow Walker Councillor $43,955 $4,798 $48,753
Rod Peters Councillor $35,500 $8,308 $43,808
Sally Hope Councillor $35,500 $2,569 $38,069
Chaundine Quipp Councillor $35,500 $1,876 $37,376
Marcia Peters Councillor $35,500 $880 $36,380
Ashley Bobb Councillor $26,610 $720 $27,330
Marlana Peters Councillor $8,808 $0 $8,808
Tamara Andrew Councillor $7,298 $0 $7,298
Alexis Grace Councillor $6,124 $579 $6,703
Total Governance Compensation: $387,461 (0.6% of total revenue)
Note: Months served as elected officials varied during the fiscal year. Willow
Walker served 11 months, Ashley Bobb served 10 months, Marlana Peters and
Tamara Andrew each served 3 months, and Alexis Grace served 2 months. All
others served full 12-month terms.
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SPECIAL NOTES
Business Entity Investments:
Seabird Island Band has significant investments in business entities including
Stqo:ya Construction LP (99.99%), Seabird Island Forestry LP (99.99%), Sqewqel
Development Corporation LLP (99.99%), Sqewqel Gas Bar LLP (99.99%), and
government business enterprises. These partnerships generated combined net
income of $1,610,713 in fiscal 2025. The Band's total investment in these
entities reached $33,493,033.
CMHC Replacement and Operating Reserves:
Under agreements with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Band
maintains replacement reserves ($1,054,955) and operating reserves ($20,175,283)
for housing programs. The replacement reserve is funded by annual allocations of
$82,150 and must be held in approved accounts. The operating reserve was fully
funded at March 31, 2025.
Contingent Liabilities:
As of March 31, 2025, the Band is contingently liable for guaranteed individual
Band member mortgages with financial institutions totaling $3,865,497. Bank of
Montreal has authorized up to $7,050,000 of residential mortgage loans to Band
members, with the Band providing guarantees. Additionally, the Band is a
guarantor on debts of Stqo:ya Construction LP of approximately $1,400,000.
Internally Restricted Equity:
The Band maintains $20,175,283 in internally restricted equity across multiple
reserves including Seabird Island Futures Reserve ($3,345,832), Capital
Replacement Fund Reserve ($3,175,720), Admin Transfers Reserve ($4,000,000),
Stqo:ya Reserve ($2,000,000), Chief and Council Discretionary Reserve
($1,886,936), and numerous other operational and program reserves.
Tangible Capital Assets:
During fiscal 2025, the Band acquired $19,792,357 in tangible capital assets,
including $14,103,413 in construction-in-progress. Net book value of tangible
capital assets increased to $65,558,623 from $47,620,895.
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Source: Audited consolidated financial statements, MNP LLP, July 15, 2025
Band Financial Statements
Band Council Remuneration
Band Owned Corporations
No Content Available
Laws, Bylaws, and Codes
Intergovernmental Agreements
Active Court Cases
Location Map
Reserves
-
ISC Code: 8073
SEABIRD ISLAND
2179.8 Hectares
YALE DISTRICT IN TWPS 3 & 4 RGE 28 W6M ON SEABIRD ISLAND IN FRASER RIVER 2 MILES EAST OF AGASSIZ
[49.263738, -121.7237608] -
ISC Code: 9657
PEKW'XE:YLES (PECKQUAYLIS)
10.3 Hectares
[49.1434849, -122.2745945] -
ISC Code: 10235
COQUALEETZA
23.4 Hectares
CHILLIWACK NEW WESTMINSTER DISCTRICT
[nil, nil]
Media Reports
Academic Research
Band Publications
No Content Available
Third Party Reports
No Content Available