Local First Nations
We are happy to share information about each of these local First Nations and encourage you to learn more through their website links.
Quw’utsun (Cowichan) Tribes
The Cowichan Tribes website notes that: The core traditional territory of the Quw’utsun peoples is 376,308 hectares (929,844 acres) of land on the southern half of Vancouver Island.
Today, the total reserve area is 2,426 hectares (5,903 acres), made up of nine reserves, Cowichan Tribes is made up of seven traditional villages: Kwa’mutsun, Qw’umiyiqun, Xwulqw’selu, S’amuna’, Lhumlhumuluts’, Xinupsun, and Til’ulpalus.
As of November 2024, the total registered population of Quw’utsun Tribes was 5,528 people, making it the largest single First Nation Band in British Columbia. Quw’utsun Tribes are Hul’q’umi’num people which means people who speak the Hul’q’umi’num language.
Diitiidʔaatx̣ (Ditidaht) First Nation
The Ditidaht First Nation website notes that: The core traditional territory of the Ditidaht people stretches from Cowichan Lake and Nitinat Lake, extending into the Pacific Rim Park Reserve between Bonilla Point and Pachena Point.
The Ditidaht have villages from Pachena Bay to the west and Karleit (kalaayit, just east of Bonilla Point) to the east, three villages in Nettinaht Inlet, eleven fishing stations on the Nettinaht River, three stations on the Cowichan Lake, and one at Sguitz (Skutz Falls) on the Cowichan River itself.
The present-day Ditidaht Nation population is about 350, of whom approximately 120 live on Malachan Indian Reserve at Nitinat Lake. 17 Ditidaht Nation reserve lands have been established. The Ditidaht people speak closely related dialects of a language called Nitinaht or Diitiidʔaatx̣. Ditidaht is one of three closely related languages (Nitinaht, Makah and Nuu-chah-nulth or Westcoast) forming the South Wakashan sub-group of the Wakashan Language Family.
xeláltxw (Halalt) First Nation
The Halalt First Nation website notes that: Halalt’s reserve lands total 165.8 hectares composed of two reserves across Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Halalt 2, which borders the Chemainus River, followed by Halalt Island 1 (Willy Island).
The Halalt originate from the village of xeláltxw, which means ‘marked houses’ or ‘painted houses’, a reference to the fact that the house posts in this village were decorated.
c̓uubaʕsaʔtx̣ (Ts’uubaa-asatx) First Nation – People of the Lake
The Ts’uubaa-asatx First Nation website notes that: Ts’uubaa-asatx’s traditional territory encompasses the entire Cowichan Lake watershed including the reserve that is the community core.
The Ts’uubaa-asatx reserve lands total 42.7 hectares of land made up of one reserve near the mouth of the Cowichan River, on the northeastern shore of Cowichan Lake. There are approximately 30 people residing on reserve and many more wanting to come back home. The Nation is Land Code operational as of 2016.
Leey’qsun (Lyackson) First Nation
The Lyackson First Nation website notes that: The people of Lyackson (Leey’qsun) First Nation, are part of the Quw’utsun Nation and are 200 members strong. Lyackson are working to reclaim their ancestral territory (Láyksen)– now known as Leey’qsun Island.
The Lyackson First Nation’s reserve lands total 744.6 hectares composed of three reserves on Valdes Island. The traditional language spoken by the Lyackson First Nation is Hul’q’umi’num’.
MÁLEXEŁ (Malahat) First Nation
The Malahat Nation website notes that: Malahat Nation’s reserve lands total 247.9 hectares composed of two reserves on Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Malahat 11 between Bamberton and Mill Bay. The Nation is Land Code operational as of 2019.
Throughout its history, Malahat Nation owned and occupied several village sites and resource areas. Two significant village sites are Keya (near the mouth of Shawnigan Creek) and Ma’le-‘h’xe’l’ (located between Verdier Point and McPhail).
P’a:chi:da?aht (Pacheedaht) First Nation
The Pacheedaht First Nation website notes that: The Pacheedaht First Nation is based on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island. Pacheedaht territory includes the lands and waters along the southwest coast of Vancouver Island between Bonilla Point and Sheringham Point.
The name “Pacheedaht” translates to English as “Children of the Sea Foam.” Pacheedaht First Nation reserve lands total 179.60 hectares.
BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin) First Nation
The Pauquachin First Nation website notes that: Pauqauchin First Nation reserve lands total 330.40 hectares made up of three reserves on the south end of Vancouver Island. The most populated reserve is Cole Bay 3, on the edge of Coles Bay, on the Saanich peninsula.
Pauquachin was originally part of the WSÁNEĆ (Saanich) Nation, which also includes Tsawout, Tsartlip, and Tseycum. These bands share a common history and territory. Saanich First Nation settlements have been mostly concentrated on the western side of the Saanich Peninsula. Hatch Point Reserve # 3 is located within the CVRD.
Spune’luxutth (Penelakut) Tribe
The Penelakut Tribe website notes that: Penelakut Tribe reserve lands total 635.7 hectares of land, comprised of four reserves across Penelakut Island, the northwestern tip of Galiano Island, Tent Island and just south of Chemainus.
The most populated reserve is Penelakut Island 7. Penelakut Tribe Tumuhw (Land) Code was operational as of February 2020. There are 1,001 Penelakut Tribe members living on and off-reserve. Penelakut Tribe is a Hul’qumi’num speaking community. Penelakut comes from the Hul’qumi’num name, Spune’luxutth’, which means ‘log buried on the beach’.
Stz’uminus First Nation
The Stz’uminus First Nation website notes that: Stz’uminus First Nation are a Coast Salish People who have lived around the Salish Sea for thousands of years. Their reserve lands total 1270.9 hectares composed of four reserves across the east coast of Vancouver Island.
The most populated reserve is Chemainus 13 between Ladysmith Bay and Kuleet Bay. Stz’uminus First Nation has 1,300 members living on and off reserve. Stz’uminus land code has been in effect since 2013.
Information updated: June 2025
