Leq'á:mel First Nation explained

The Leq'á:mel First Nation, formerly known as Lakahahmen First Nation,[1] is a First Nations band government whose community and offices are located in the area near Deroche, British Columbia in the Fraser Valley region in Canada,[2] [3] about 12 kilometres east of the District of Mission. They are a member government of the Chiefs Council, which is one of two tribal councils of the (though many bands are independent of either).

Although also known as the Sumas before 1962,[1] the Leq’á:mel people are distinct from present-day Sumas.[4] Other previous names include Alternate Nicomen (1911), Nicomen Slough, Somass River, merged with Squeam or Skweahm (post 1924) and changed To Lackahahmen (1962-2003).[1] They were historically affiliated with the Sumas, Scowlitz, Matsqui and Nooksack tribes.[5]

Its governance structure is described as a custom electoral system.[1] The current chief is Alice Thompson who is serving a term running from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025.[6] [7]

The name "Leq’á:mel" means "the level place where people meet" reflecting how it was described as having been one of the most popular trading stops in Stó:lō territory.[5] [8] The place is also thought to be the birthplace of the Halkomelem dialect Halq’eméylem.[5] [8] Historically, people lived in longhouses on Leq’á:mel land up to one kilometre in length.[5] [8]

Population

The band has an approximate population of 460 as reported by the Government of British Columbia.[3] The 2016 census lists 695 members of the First Nation, a decline of 11% from the 2006 census.[9] Of them, 150 were registered Indian.[9] As of July 2022, 125 registered members live on Leq'á:mel land, 19 live on other reserves and 338 do not live on a reserve.[10]

Two cemeteries are run by the band with dozens of unlabeled graves.[11] [12]

The language of the First Nation is Halq’eméylem.[1] However, it is not a mother tongue for many residents of their reserves.[13] [14] Those knowing the language halved from 2006 to 2016 to 2.2%, with 675 members only knowing English.[15]

Indian Reserves

The Leq'á:mel First Nation currently holds ten reserve lands exclusively that are located in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Deroche and Nicomen Island.[16] Three reserves are residential areas, two are cemeteries and the rest are either under a certificate of possession to members, leased for agricultural use, or kept for economic development.[8] Indian Reserves under its administration include:[17]

Three of these reserves are residential, two are cemeteries, and the others are variously under Certificates of Possession by band members, leased out for agriculture, or set aside for economic development.[21] [22]

In 2021, 60 ha of government land adjacent to Fraser River Heritage Park and the Pekw’xe:yles Indian Reserve, the former site of St. Mary's Indian Residential School, was transferred to the Leq’á:mel, Matsqui (Mathexwi) and Sumas (Semá:th) First Nations Society.[23] [24] Not being reserve land, the property remains under provincial and local government laws.[23] Most of it was leased back to the government for use as a park and recreational area.[23] [24] The property also contains pre-contact archaeological sites.[23]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Leq'a: mel . British Columbia Assembly of First Nations . Prince George, British Columbia, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  2. https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNMain.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=579&lang=eng Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - First Nation Detail
  3. Web site: Leq'á:mel First Nation (Lakahahmen) . Government of British Columbia . Victoria, British Columbia, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  4. Web site: Sumas First Nation . British Columbia Assembly of First Nations . Prince George, British Columbia, Canada . August 22, 2022.
  5. Web site: Leq’á:mel . Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association . Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada . August 21, 2022.
  6. Web site: About Leq’á:mel . Leq'á:mel First Nation . 2021-12-07 . Deroche, British Columbia, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  7. Web site: Governance: Leq'á:mel First Nation . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 18, 2022.
  8. Web site: Arts, Culture, & Heritage . Leq'á:mel First Nation . Deroche, British Columbia, Canada . August 21, 2022.
  9. Web site: Population Characteristics . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 21, 2022.
  10. Web site: Registered Population . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 21, 2022.
  11. Web site: Cemetery . Leq'á:mel First Nation . Deroche, British Columbia, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  12. News: Talaga . Tanya . The living reclaim the missing . May 28, 2022 . The Globe and Mail . Toronto, Ontario, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  13. Web site: Census Profile, 2016 Census: Lakahahmen 11, Indian reserve [Census subdivision], British Columbia and British Columbia [Province] ]. Statistics Canada . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . August 20, 2022.
  14. Web site: Aboriginal Population Profile, 2016 Census: Lakahahmen 11, Indian reserve [Census subdivision], British Columbia ]. Statistics Canada . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . August 20, 2022.
  15. Web site: Languages characteristics . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 21, 2022.
  16. Web site: Where We Live – Leqamel . Stó:lō Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association . Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada . August 20, 2022.
  17. https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/FNP/Main/Search/FNReserves.aspx?BAND_NUMBER=579&lang=eng Indian and Brad and emily Northern Affairs Canada - Reserves/Villages/Settlements Detail
  18. Web site: Reserve/Settlement/Village Detail . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 21, 2022.
  19. Web site: Geography . Ottawa, Ontario, Canada . . Government of Canada . August 21, 2022.
  20. https://fnp-ppn.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca/fnp/Main/Search/RVDetail.aspx?RESERVE_NUMBER=09657&lang=eng Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - Reserves/Settlements/Villages detail
  21. Web site: Welcome to Leq'á:mel First Nation . https://web.archive.org/web/20161105004719/http://www.leqamel.ca/ . 2016-11-05 . 2005-07-06 . dead . Leq'á:mel First Nation.
  22. Web site: Leq'á:mel First Nation . Leq'á:mel First Nation . Deroche, British Columbia, Canada . August 18, 2022.
  23. News: Mills . Kevin . Historic land-transfer agreement in works between District of Mission, First Nations, province . June 26, 2020 . Mission City Record . Mission, British Columbia, Canada . August 22, 2022.
  24. News: Penner . Patrick . Historic agreement signed in Mission transfers 60 hectares of Crown land back to First Nations . July 21, 2021 . Mission City Record . Mission, British Columbia, Canada . August 22, 2022.

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