This week, a land transfer deal from the BC government to the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes communities was completed.
The lands returned to the Indigenous communities are of particular cultural significance, as they were historically used by the Nations for gathering, harvesting and other activities.
The now-transferred 312 hectare plot of land is located near an existing Cowichan Tribes reserve known as Skutz Falls IR8. This area is around 10 kilometres southeast of the Town of Lake Cowichan.
According to the Province, the land was valued at approximately $8.6 million, and purchased for the Nations from the forestry company, Mosiac Forest Management.
“The aquisition [sic] of this parcel of land could not have been made possible without the commitment of British Columbia, our kinship ties with Cowichan Tribes and willing seller Mosaic,” said Hereditary Chief Laxele’wuts’aat Chief Shana Thomas of Lyackson First Nation.
“This village site will forever change the trajectory of the Leey’qsun Mustimuhw for our community today and future generations.”
Going forward, Lyackson plans to re-establish a village site on the land that has been given back to the Nation.
“Our community has been fighting for the re-establishment of our village site on Vancouver Island for over four generations, and now that it is here, we have a lot of work to do to prepare, but our community is ready to take on that work,” the Nation’s chief continued.
Lyackson’s next steps will be adopting its first official community plan, mapping out the new village for its members.
Cowichan Tribes will also have a hand in planning how the land is used, having signed a deal with Lyackson Nation regarding the utilization of the land.
“I recognize the Province of BC for completing the transfer of this land in the Skutz region to Cowichan Tribes and Lyackson First Nation,” said Chief Cindy Daniels (Sulsulxumaat) of Cowichan Tribes.
“The westward region of our traditional territory by Lake Cowichan has always been a significant contributor to the well-being of Quw’utsun Mustimuhw, culturally and as part of our traditionally abundant food systems.”
She added that the teamwork between Cowichan Tribes and Lyackson Nation on making this land transfer happen shows the groups will collaborate in good faith as they reconnect with the land.
“We look forward to continuing the work ahead over the coming years as outlined in our MOU with Lyackson First Nation, including the equitable division of the land, additions to reserve, as well as the community planning and development processes,” said Chief Daniels.
Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes have entered into the memorandum of understanding, and will hold the lands in partnership until a plan is put in place to divide the lands
“This is an incredible achievement for Lyackson First Nation and the Cowichan Tribes that will bring real change for their communities,” said Christine Boyle, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation.
“The collaborative approach taken to identify the lands for transfer is an example of perseverance and partnership in the Province’s reconciliation journey with both Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes.”
According to the two Indigenous communities, this process has been guided by the shared teachings of nuts’a’maat shqwaluwun (working together with one mind, one heart, one spirit) and ts’its’uw’atul (helping one another).
