Known in the Saanich language as the W̱sáneć, the Saanich people are an alliance of five distinct First Nations with a connection to the lands along the north coast of the Gulf and San Juan islands, southern Vancouver Island, and the southern edge of the Lower Mainland in British Columbia, Canada.
The five Saanich First Nations are the Malahat First Nation (W̱SÁNEĆ), the Pauquachin First Nation(BOḰEĆEN), the Tsawout First Nation (SȾÁ,UTW̱), the Tsartlip First Nation (W̱JOȽEȽP), and the Tseycum First Nation (W̱SÍḴEM).
The Malahat First Nation represents about 350 members, who have two reserve lands on the western shore of Saanich Inlet on Vancouver Island, which is a portion of its original lands. The Malahat First Nation is a member of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council, and its traditional languages are Hul̓q̓umín̓um̓ and SENĆOŦEN.
The Pauquachin First Nation inhabit territory in the Greater Victoria area of southern Vancouver Island, between Gordon Head and Cowichan Head. Their traditional language is North Straits Salish. Organized by the Indian Act of 1876 into the Pauquachin First Nation, they are members of the Te'Mexw Treaty Association.
The Pauquachin First Nation holds title to three reserves in the Saanich Inlet Basin on Southern Vancouver Island. These include Coles Bay (Indian Reserve #3), Hatch Point (Indian Reserve #12), and Goldstream (Indian Reserve #13). All Pauquachin members who live on the reserve reside in the Coles Bay Reserve, where they have access to residential, cultural, and administrative facilities. The Goldstream Reserve is shared with the Malahat, Tsartlip, Tsawout, and Tseycum nations for traditional fishing purposes.
The Tsawout First Nation holds Indian Reserve #2, also known as the East Saanich Indian Reserve. Its main village is on the east side of the Saanich Peninsula, about fifteen minutes north of Victoria. The Tsawout also has reserves on Fulford Harbour, Saturna Island, Mandarte Island, Pender Island, and Goldstream. Their traditional language is SENĆOŦEN.
The Tsartlip First Nation is on the west side of the Saanich Peninsula, in Saanich territory on Vancouver Island. With 653 members, they are part of the Sencot'en Alliance and were signatories to one of the Douglas Treaties in the 1850s.
With 166 members, the Tseycum First Nation is also on Vancouver Island and was a signatory of the 1850s Douglas Treaties. They have five reserves: Bare Island (Indian Reserve #9), Pender Island (Indian Reserve #8), Saturna Island (Indian Reserve #7), Union Bay (Indian Reserve #4), and Goldstream (Indian Reserve #13).
The Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum, and Tsawout nations created the ȽÁU,WELṈEW̱ Tribal School in 1989, which enrolls students in preschool through the twelfth grade, with classes for adults in the adult center next door to the high school, where SENĆOŦEN, the W̱SÁNEĆ language, and W̱SÁNEĆ culture are taught along with the provincial curriculum. Currently, a full immersion program in the SENĆOŦEN language is available for grades one through five, and a half immersion program after that, the goal being for students to become fully bilingual.
Chosen, no doubt, for its abundance of resources, Indigenous people have inhabited Vancouver Island for thousands of years. The early Coast Salish people relied heavily on fishing and hunting, and others who were living in internal British Columbia probably moved nearer to the coast because it provided an easy food source.
Most Coast Salish people were semi-nomadic in the summer, hunting and gathering food, while they resided in plank houses in the winter. A single home might house several related families, forming a village under one roof.
The first contact with Europeans was in the 1700s, after which the lives of many of the Saanich people were lost to smallpox and other diseases, and Indigenous people across British Columbia were pushed off of their traditional lands through treaties. Saanich culture and lives were also lost to residential schools set up to force the assimilation of Indigenous people.
Another effect of colonialism was the loss of Indigenous objects and artifacts to museums and private collections.
The focus of this part of our web guide is on the Saanich people. Topics related to the Saanich people, their First Nation groups, organizations, businesses, enterprises, schools, medical facilities, activities, and events, are appropriate for this category, as are any businesses or websites belonging to Saanich individuals.
Recommended Resources
The Malahat First Nation is a Coast Salish community of Saanich (W̱SÁNEĆ) people with two reserves on the western shore of Saanich Inlet, on Vancouver Island. The Nation's governing structure, chief, council, laws, and policies are highlighted, along with its comprehensive planning efforts, environmental stewardship initiatives, land management programs, sustainable practices, fisheries management, and marine stewardship. Career information and contacts are provided.
https://malahatnation.com/
The Pauaquachin are a Coast Salish people, one of the five groups of Saanich First Nations. This section highlights its history, lands, language, culture, and leadership. It also highlights member services and programs and provides information on membership, status cards, social assistance, educational programs, career and employment opportunities, facility rentals, news and notices, and an overview of its shellfish restoration efforts. An online contact form is included.
https://www.pauquachin.ca/
SENĆOŦEN: Saanich - Northern Straits Salish
Linguists label the North Straits Salish language a group of dialects along the southern reaches of the Strait of Georgia, the Juan de Fuca Strait, and the northern part of the Strait of Georgia. These dialects may include the SENĆOŦEN (Saanich), Semiahmoo, Sooke, Songish, Lummi, and/or Clallam, although this page focuses on the SENĆOŦEN language. Included are SENĆOŦEN consonants and vowels, SENĆOŦEN community names, and notes on the use of the language, as well as this compilation.
https://www.languagegeek.com/salishan/sencoten.html
A member of the Senot'en Alliance, the Tsartlip First Nation is located on Vancouver Island's Saanich Peninsula. Its reserve and offices are north of the town of Brentwood Bay. The Tsartlip First Nation is one of the five communities making up the W̱SÁNEĆ Nation. Its history and a profile of the Nation are set forth on its website, which includes the addresses, telephone and fax numbers, email addresses, and social media for the Nation's administrative and health offices.
https://tsartlip.com/
Situated on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, the First Nations government is a member of the Sencot'en Alliance and one of the five Saanich First Nations groups. The chief and council members are introduced, with portfolios. Member health, education, housing, social development, and employment services are featured, including job openings and a contact form for job applicants. Its administrative offices, telephone, fax, and email address are provided.
https://tsawout.ca/
The WLC is a unified, legal governing body representing the interests of two W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, Tsartlip and Tseycum. Its mission is to enhance the recognition of the W̱SÁNEĆ Douglas Treaty rights and W̱SÁNEĆ Aboriginal rights and titles, serve as a collective voice for the W̱SÁNEĆ Nations, and promote the W̱SÁNEĆ culture, traditional practices, and language. Within W̱SÁNEĆ territory, the WLC fosters sustainable and equitable resource development.
https://wsanec.com/
The board oversees ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱ Tribal School, located on the Saanich Peninsula near Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, about fifteen kilometers from Victoria. Situated in a wooded setting on Tsartlip Reserve, the school serves the Saanich people on four reserves and the surrounding communities of Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tseycum, and Tsawout. The school's name was taken from the name of the Saanich people's sacred mountain, ȽÁU, WELṈEW̱, where the Saanich people found refuge from a flood.
https://wsanecschoolboard.ca/
