ʔəms giǰɛ: Tla’amin Territory
Tla’amin Territory is ʔəms giǰɛ.
Tla’amin people have lived in, cared for, and governed this territory since time immemorial. Our creation stories tell how the Creator placed Tla’amin people on this land. This connection begins at birth and is carried through our families, teachings, language, and responsibilities.
ʔəms giǰɛ is more than 609,000 hectares. It includes land, ocean, and fresh water. It includes villages, islands, rivers, lakes, forests, shorelines, harvesting places, travel routes, burial places, and sacred places.
Tla’amin place names are part of this history. They carry memory, knowledge, stories, and responsibility. They connect people to where families lived, harvested, travelled, fished, gathered, prayed, and cared for one another.
All of Tla’amin life is connected to the land, air, and waters. This is why land work is about more than property, maps, or permits. It is also about culture, language, food, water, access, ancestors, future generations, and Tla’amin law.
ʔaʔǰɩnxʷegəs and Tla’amin Lands
ʔaʔǰɩnxʷegəs means “a good relationship with someone” in ʔayʔaǰuθəm. It is the treaty between Tla’amin Nation, Canada, and British Columbia. It came into effect in 2016. Through ʔaʔǰɩnxʷegəs, Tla’amin Nation regained ownership of Tla’amin Lands and strengthened its tools for self-government.
The treaty describes the Tla’amin Area, which is about 609,000 hectares. This includes land, ocean, and fresh water. The Tla’amin Area is much larger than Tla’amin Lands. It reflects the wider territory where Tla’amin people have rights, responsibilities, history, and relationships.
Tla’amin Lands are lands owned by Tla’amin Nation. Through ʔaʔǰɩnxʷegəs, about 8,323 hectares became Tla’amin Lands. This includes former reserve lands and former provincial Crown land.
Tla’amin Nation has law-making authority for the management, planning, zoning, and development of Tla’amin Lands. This includes land interests, leases, licences, permits, easements, rights-of-way, and land title or registry systems.
Tla’amin Lands and Place Names
Tla’amin Lands include different parcels across ʔəms giǰɛ. Each place has its own history, use, access needs, and care responsibilities.Place names are part of this history. They carry language, memory, stories, and knowledge about the land and water.
Tla’amin Lands under ʔaʔǰɩnxʷegəs
- tišosəm, means “milky waters from herring spawn.” tišosəm is the main Tla’amin community. It is home for many Tla’amin people and includes homes, community spaces, services, roads, shorelines, and places of cultural importance.
- ʔaʔgayqsən, formerly known as Harwood Island, means “pointed nose.” The Treaty identifies this area as former Harwood Island Indian Reserve No. 2.
- paqiʔaǰɩm, is on Cortes Island and means “maple tree place.” The Treaty identifies this area as former Paukeanum Indian Reserve No. 3.
- toqʷanan, also known as Theodosia, is connected to the Theodosia watershed, salmon, and long-standing Tla’amin stewardship. The Treaty identifies this area as former Toquana Indian Reserve No. 4.
- toχʷnač, also known as Okeover Inlet, refers to a long, strung-out shape. The Treaty identifies this area as former Tokenatch Indian Reserve No. 5.
- q̓a qɛy q̓ay, (Grace Harbour), means “camp overnight.” The Treaty identifies the nearby Tla’amin Land parcel as former Kahkaykay Indian Reserve No. 6.
- qɛyɛqʷən, (Savary Island) means “fresh water spring.” Another place name connected to Savary Island is ʔayhos, meaning “double-headed sea serpent.”
- sayayɩn, (Texada Island) meaning “end of the island” or “the end of something”.
- ƛaʔamɛn (Lund) means “a place to head towards” or “a place of refuge.” The Treaty includes the Lund Hotel Parcels as Tla’amin Lands.
Access and Respect
Not all Tla’amin Lands are open to the public. Some areas may allow short-term, non-commercial recreation, such as walking, hiking, or canoeing. Other areas are private, sensitive, closed, or require permission from Tla’amin Nation.
Areas with restricted or no public access include:
- ʔaʔgayqsən / Harwood Island: Tla’amin Private Land. Not open for general public access without permission.
- Dinner Rock: Closed to public access.
Other areas may also be closed or restricted to protect cultural places, habitat, restoration areas, drinking water, safety, or community use. Public access does not mean permission to harvest, cut trees, take plants, dig, build, camp, light fires, or use land for business. All of these uses require permits and permission from Tla’amin Nation.
Please respect all signs, gates, closures, Tla’amin laws, cultural places, and directions from Tla’amin staff or Guardians.
When in doubt, contact Lands and Resources before entering Tla’amin Lands.