Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation Explained

The Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation, formerly known as Canoe Creek Band/Dog Creek Indian Band, created as a result of merger of the Canoe Creek Band and Dog Creek Band is a First Nations government of the Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nation, located in the Fraser Canyon-Cariboo region of the Central Interior of the Canadian province of British Columbia. It was created when the government of the then-Colony of British Columbia established an Indian reserve system in the 1860s. It is a member government of the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council.

The territory of the band spans the Fraser River and is around the basins of Dog Creek, across from Gang Ranch, and Canoe Creek to the east of the river, and its canyon in between. The area is to the west of 100 Mile House and south of the city of Willams Lake and the reserves of the Alkali Lake First Nation in between.

The Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation has not signed any treaty with any settler-colonial political entity, nor has it ceded any land and let go its territorial claims. As part of the Northern Secwepemc te Qelmucw (Tribal Council), Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation has been in negotiation with the government of Canada and the government of British Columbia regarding a final treaty settling this matter. An "Agreement in Principle" was signed in 2018. Once a final agreement is signed between the Tribal Council, Canada, and British Columbia, it is expected that the Indian Reserves will be abolished, the territories under jurisdiction of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation will expand significantly, and former reserves will be absorbed into settlement land under sovereignty of Stswecem'c Xgat'tem First Nation.[1]

Indian Reserves

Indian Reserves under the administration of the band are:[2] As explained before, these reserves were unilaterally defined by the Government of British Columbia, and thus the Nation has never retracted its claim on its territory. These reserves are expected to be abolished and absorbed into settlement lands, after the signing of a final agreement.

Demographics

Band population was 180 in 1996, and 265 in 2001.[3]

Notable citizens

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.bctreaty.ca/northern-shuswap-tribal-council BC Treaty Commission - Northern Shuswap Tribal Council
  2. https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNReserves.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=723&lang=eng Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Reserves/Settlements/Villages Detail
  3. https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNPopulation.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=723&lang=eng Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Registered Population - Canoe Creek Band