| Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw First Nation

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Community Profile
Community Profile
Last Updated September 8, 2024
  • Name: Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw (ISC Code: 724)
  • Former Names:
  • Band Style:
  • Cultural Area:
  • Indigenous Language:
  • Number of Registered Members: 1118
Click below for more information about Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw:
Governance

Band Council

  • GOVERNANCE TYPE:
  • TERM EXPIRES: 04/07/2027
  • CHIEF: TERRY SR. WALKUS
  • NUMBER OF COUNCIL MEMBERS: 9

Contact Information

  • BAND WEBSITE: /nations/607
  • PHONE NUMBER: (250) 949-8343
  • FAX NUMBER: (250) 949-7402
  • ADDRESS: PO BOX 998, PORT HARDY, BC
  • EMAILS:
    • Councillor JANINE SHEARD:
    • Councillor DENNIS WALKUS:
    • Councillor GARY WALKUS:
    • Councillor PADDY WALKUS:
    • Councillor DUANE NELSON:
    • Councillor EDWARD WALKUS:
    • Councillor WILLIE WALKUS:
    • Chief TERRY SR. WALKUS:
    • Councillor MARY DODIE RUFUS:
    • General Band Office:
    • Media Contact:
    • Referrals Contact:

Laws, Bylaws, and Codes

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Intergovernmental Agreements

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Lands and Traditional Territory

Reserves

  • ISC Code: 6995
    PAHAS 3
    39.9 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 1, ON NORTH SHORE OF BLUNDEN HARBOUR NORTH SIDE OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE STRAIT
    [21.5616575, -158.0715983]
  • ISC Code: 7008
    WAUMP 16
    37.6 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, AT HEAD OF ALISON SOUND, BELIZE INLET
    [51.1918188, -126.9208384]
  • ISC Code: 7011
    WYCLESE 1
    223.0 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RGE 2, ON SOUTH SHORE OF SMITH SOUND AT ENTRANCE TO WYCLEES LAGOON, INCLS 5 OFF-SHORE ISLANDS
    [51.2840516, -127.367837]
  • ISC Code: 7002
    OWH-WIS-TOO-A-WAN 10
    5.3 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, AT ECLIPSE NARROWS, ENTRANCE TO FREDERICK SOUND, SEYMOUR INLET
    [51.0663134, -126.7771318]
  • ISC Code: 7009
    PEL-LOOTH'L KAI 17
    1.7 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, AT EAST END OF THE BELIZE INLET
    [51.1025207, -126.9078588]
  • ISC Code: 6998
    SAAGOOMBAHLAH 6
    1.8 Hectares
    COAST DIST. RGE 2, ON THE EAST SHORE OF SCHOONER PASSAGE EAST OF BRAHAM ISLAND, INCLUDES 1 ISLAND OFF-SHORE
    [51.0830893, -127.5089182]
  • ISC Code: 6997
    TA-A-ACK 5
    13.9 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, ONE OF THE ISLANDS OF THE SORM GROUP WEST AND OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE STRAIT
    [51.02342420000001, -127.7162915]
  • ISC Code: 7014
    TOKSEE 4
    5.6 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, LOT 733, AT JUNCTION OF LONG LAKE AND WYCLEES LAGOON
    [51.2321885, -127.3404907]
  • ISC Code: 7005
    TSAI-KWI-EE 13
    4.6 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, AT VILLAGE BAY, EAST SHORE OF MEREWORTH SOUND
    [51.258461, 0.380712]
  • ISC Code: 7016
    TSEETSUM-SAWLASILAH 6
    2.1 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, LOT 732, ON NORTH SHORE OF NAYSASH INLET, SMITH SOUND
    [51.3396676, -127.3202707]
  • ISC Code: 7006
    KO-KWI-ISS 14
    6.4 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, ON EAST SHORE OF ALISON SOUND NORTH OF BELIZE INLET
    [51.1499568, -127.1055319]
  • ISC Code: 7001
    KWETAHKIS 9
    4.0 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, ON NORTH SHORE OF WHELAKIS LAGOON OF SEYMOUR INLET
    [50.9719597, -127.2117572]
  • ISC Code: 6994
    NA-KWOCKTO 2
    0.4 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, 3 SMALL ISLANDS AT MOUTH OF NUGENT SOUND 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF KEQUESTA I.R. NO. 1
    [26.9636401, -80.1121493]
  • ISC Code: 7013
    NATHLEGALIS 3
    134.4 Hectares
    COAST DIST RGE 2,. LTS726,27,28,29,730,31, BEING INDIAN ISLAND AND 5 SMALLER ISLANDS IN TAKUSH HARBOUR BROWNING CHNL
    [51.2812164, -127.6482566]
  • ISC Code: 7015
    HALOWIS 5
    3.6 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, MOUTH OF SMOKEHOUSE CREEK HEAD OF LONG LAKE
    [51.2916632, -127.0485604]
  • ISC Code: 7007
    KAI-TOO-KWIS 15
    20.8 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, AT HEAD OF CHIEF NOLLIS BAY, ALISON SOUND NORTH OF BELIZE INLET
    [51.18586519999999, -127.0935412]
  • ISC Code: 6993
    KEQUESTA 1
    70.4 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, ON NORTH SHORE AT ENTRANCE TO NUGENT SOUND
    [21.5616575, -158.0715983]
  • ISC Code: 7012
    NEKITE 2
    66.8 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, AT MOUTH OF THE NEKITE RIVER HEAD OF SMITH INLET
    [51.401108, -127.1179266]
  • ISC Code: 7003
    PENEECE 11
    3.5 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, AT HEAD OF WIGWAM BAY NORTH SHORE OF SEYMOUR INLET
    [51.1345407, -126.7205725]
  • ISC Code: 6987
    TSULQUATE 4
    59.9 Hectares
    RUPERT DISTRICT, ON WEST SHORE OF HARDY BAY, ONE MILE NORTH OF PORT HARDY, NORTH COAST OF VANCOUVER ISLAND
    [50.7088864, -127.4871571]
  • ISC Code: 7004
    WAWWAT'L 12
    66.8 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, ON RIGHT BANK OF THE SEYMOUR RIVER, ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HEAD OF SEYMOUR INLET
    [51.2097012, -126.6750351]
  • ISC Code: 7017
    ANN ISLAND 7
    10.1 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, BEING LOT 725, ANN ISLAND SMITH SOUND
    [51.2741299, -127.8097036]
  • ISC Code: 7000
    DEDAGAUS 8
    0.3 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT, RANGE 2, ON NORTH SHORE OF SEYMOUR INLET, 1/2 MILE NORTH OF THE NAHWOKTO RAPIDS
    [51.1131251, -127.5171593]
  • ISC Code: 6999
    KHAZISELA 7
    0.4 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, AN ISLAND IN CENTRE OF NAHKWOCKTO RAPIDS NORTH END OF SCHOONER CHANNEL
    [51.09702009999999, -127.4999659]
  • ISC Code: 7010
    KUTHLO 18
    3.0 Hectares
    COAST DISTRICT RANGE 2, LOT 735, AT THE HEAD OF SALMON ARM SEYMOUR INLET
    [50.7001034, -119.2838443]
  • ISC Code: 6996
    MAHPAHKUM 4
    7.8 Hectares
    COAST DIST RGE 1, NORTH END OF DESERTERS ISLAND W END OF QUEEN CHARLOTTE STRAIT, INCLUDES 3 SMALL OF-SHORE ISLANDS
    [50.8868266, -127.4883889]

Traditional Territory

  • Katzie Official Traditional Territory Map [pdf]
  • Interactive Map
  • The Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw First Nation’s traditional territory encompasses significant portions of the Lower Fraser River, Pitt River, and Pitt Lake. The territory extends through modern-day Langley, Mission, Surrey, New Westminster, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Richmond, among others.
  • The Gwa'Sala-Nakwaxda'xw people have historically used the land for fishing, hunting, and gathering. Significant fishing sites include the Pitt River and Fraser River for salmon harvesting.
  • Interactive Map of Katzie Traditional Territory: Click here to view a detailed interactive map showing the boundaries and key cultural sites.
  • Historical Land Use: The Katzie people have lived in this region for thousands of years, practicing sustainable resource management and protecting sacred areas such as Pitt Lake and its surrounding wetlands. For more information on Katzie’s historical land use, visit Katzie Traditional Land Use Reports.
  • In addition to key fishing sites, the Katzie historically used the upland forests of Blue Mountain for hunting and gathering. This area remains central to Katzie’s cultural practices today.

Land Claims

  • Specific Claims None
  • BC Treaty Process Participation: The Katzie First Nation is a participant in the British Columbia Treaty Process, which aims to resolve land claims and establish new agreements regarding land, resources, and self-governance.
  • Treaty Negotiation Status: Katzie First Nation is currently in **Stage 4** of the BC Treaty Process, where they are negotiating an Agreement-in-Principle with the governments of British Columbia and Canada. This stage focuses on addressing key issues such as land ownership, resource rights, and governance over traditional territories. You can read more about their progress in the process at the BC Treaty Commission.
  • Negotiation Issues: The Katzie First Nation is negotiating on several issues, including:
    • Self-governance over their lands and resources
    • Fishing rights and management of the **Fraser River** and **Pitt River** ecosystems
    • Forest resource management and protection of sacred sites like **Pitt Lake**
    • Economic development opportunities and rights to traditional lands
  • Katzie Treaty Process Summary: For a full overview of Katzie’s involvement in the BC Treaty Process, visit the Katzie First Nation profile on the BC Treaty Commission website.
  • Timeline of Negotiations: Katzie First Nation has been in negotiations since **Stage 1** of the treaty process in the early 1990s. They have achieved significant milestones, including interim agreements on fisheries and land use, while continuing negotiations toward a final treaty agreement.

Lands Administration

  • Land Code: ✔
  • Land Code Document: PDF
  • Land Use Plan: PDF
  • Land Code Contact: N/A
  • Part of Guardians Program: ✔
  • Guardians Program Notes: N/A
  • Related Documents: Environmental Management Plan [Part 1] [PDF]
Consultations and Referrals

Band Submissions

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Consultation Reports

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Band Business Interests

Band Owned Corporations

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Court Records

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Active Court Cases

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Media Reports

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Academic Research

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