| Tsawwassen | |
|---|---|
| — Tsawwassen Lands — | |
| Traditional Tsawwassen tribal territory | |
| First Nation | Tsawwassen |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Location | Greater Vancouver |
| Government | |
| • Type | Band |
| • Chief | Kim Baird |
| • Affiliation: | Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council |
| Area[1] | |
| • Total | 2.9 km2 (1.1 sq mi) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 326 estimated |
| Ethnic groups | Coast Salish |
| Languages | North Straits Salish, English |
| Website | Tsawwassen First Nation website |
The Tsawwassen First Nation is a First Nations government whose only Indian reserve is located in the Greater Vancouver area of the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, Canada, adjacent to the South Arm of the Fraser River and the Tsawwassen Ferry Terminal and just north of the international boundary with the United States at Point Roberts, Washington. The name of the reserve is the Tsawwassen Indian Reserve and unlike most Indian Reserves it is unnumbered.[2]
The Tsawwassen First Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council.
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The Tsawwassen, a Coast Salish people, are one of the few British Columbia First Nations to come to the end of the BC Treaty Process, the others being the Nisga'a, the Temexw Treaty Association and the Lheidl T'enneh First Nation. The treaty deal would have allowed for the expansion of the Roberts Bank Superport and the employment of band members in the expanded facility, but was criticized for being a sell-out, as the negotiated settlement included an abandonment of all aboriginal rights. The treaty deal was voted down in March 2007 by band members, as was also the case with the Temexw and Lheidli T'enneh treaties.
In July 2007 the nation voted in favour of a new package, more than doubling the size of the Tsawwassen reserve by 400 hectares, offering a cash settlement of $16 million and $36 million in program funding, and reserving a portion of the Fraser River salmon catch to the Tsawwassen. In return, the Tsawwassen will abandon other land claims and will eventually pay taxes.[3]