The Leq'á:mel First Nation , formerly known as Lakahahmen First Nation , 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 , about 12 kilometres east of the District of Mission . They are a member government of the Sto:lo Nation Chiefs Council, which is one of two tribal councils of the Sto:lo (though many bands are independent of either).
11-507: Although also known as the Sumas before 1962, the Leq’á:mel people are distinct from present-day Sumas . Other previous names include Alternate Nicomen (1911), Nicomen Slough, Somass River, merged with Squeam or Skweahm (post 1924) and changed To Lackahahmen (1962-2003). They were historically affiliated with the Sumas, Scowlitz , Matsqui and Nooksack tribes. Its governance structure
22-492: Is Halq’eméylem. However, it is not a mother tongue for many residents of their reserves. Those knowing the language halved from 2006 to 2016 to 2.2%, with 675 members only knowing English. Download coordinates as: The Leq'á:mel First Nation currently holds ten reserve lands exclusively that are located in Abbotsford , Chilliwack , Deroche and Nicomen Island . Three reserves are residential areas, two are cemeteries and
33-612: Is a band government of the Sto:lo people located in the Upper Fraser Valley region, at the community of Kilgard a.k.a. Upper Sumas, part of Abbotsford , British Columbia , Canada . They are a member government of the Sto:lo Nation tribal council. Its governance structure is a custom electoral system . The current chief is Dalton Silver. The official language is Halq'eméylem . The group occupies
44-488: Is derived from a Cowichan tribe . Their reserve land area covers 245.3 hectares and has a population of 332. In 2021, 60 hectares 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. Not being reserve land,
55-675: Is described as a custom electoral system . The current chief is Alice Thompson who is serving a term running from April 1, 2021 to March 31, 2025. 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. The place is also thought to be the birthplace of the Halkomelem dialect Halq’eméylem. Historically, people lived in longhouses on Leq’á:mel land up to one kilometre in length. The band has an approximate population of 460 as reported by
66-614: 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. Not being reserve land, the property remains under provincial and local government laws. Most of it was leased back to the government for use as a park and recreational area. The property also contains pre-contact archaeological sites. Sumas First Nation The Sumas First Nation ( Halkomelem : Sema:th ) Sumalh or Sumas Indian Band
77-521: The Government of British Columbia. The 2016 census lists 695 members of the First Nation, a decline of 11% from the 2006 census. Of them, 150 were registered Indian. 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. Two cemeteries are run by the band with dozens of unlabeled graves. The language of the First Nation
88-545: The prairie on the lakebed itself, so they did not have to evacuate when the former lake flooded during the November 2021 Pacific Northwest floods . Before 1962 the people were known as Sumas (Kilgard) and are distinct from the Leqʼ a꞉ mel who were also known as the Sumas before 1962. Other previous names include: Nicomen Slough, Somass River and Sumas Tribe. The name "Sumas" means "big flat opening" or "land without trees" and
99-524: The property remains under provincial and local government laws. Most of it was leased back to the government for use as a park and recreational area. The property also contains pre-contact archaeological sites. The First Nation band council runs a number of businesses including Semath Industries . This First Nations in Canada –related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . This British Columbia politics–related article
110-521: The region near the Sumas Prairie , and historically used Sumas Lake as "our supermarket, our shopping centre," before it was drained by colonial authorities who wanted to farm the land underneath. When the lake was drained, the First Nation was pushed onto a nearby reserve so that settlers could use the fertile soil underneath the lake. The First Nation occupies higher ground near the Prairie, not
121-468: The rest are either under a certificate of possession to members, leased for agricultural use, or kept for economic development. Indian Reserves under its administration include: 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. In 2021, 60 ha of government land adjacent to Fraser River Heritage Park and
SECTION 10
#1732791194486#485514