THE TSLEIL-WAUTUTH NATION

The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation History

Tsleil-Waututh is the Salishan name of the early Native village at the mouth of Seymour River. Tsleil-Waututh can be translated as “People of the Inlet”. The Tsleil-Waututh are Coast Salish people who speak the down-river dialect of the Halkomelem language. Today, Tsleil-Waututh First Nation members live in a community located between Maplewood Flats and Deep Cove on the north shore of Burrard Inlet. The traditional territory of the Tsleil-Waututh First nation encompasses a much larger area of 720 square miles that reaches from the Fraser River in the south to Mamquam Lake (near Whistler) in the north. The most heavily utilized part of this territory is the water and land area around Burrard Inlet and Indian Arm.

Tsleil-Waututh Traditional "Seasonal Round"

Prior to contact with Europeans, oral history tells us that we numbered over 10,000 people. Our “seasonal round” involved a complex cycle of food gathering, hunting, and spiritual and cultural activities that formed the heart of Tsleil-Waututh culture.

In the winter, our community members would congregate in large villages, typically located in sheltered bays. Shed-roofed houses up to several hundred feet in length were divided into individual family apartments. During the winter, we subsisted largely on stored dried foods gathered and processed throughout the rest of the year. Winter activities included wood carving, weaving blankets of mountain goat wool, and participating in spiritual ceremonies.

In the late spring, families would disperse to set up base camps on virtually every beach and protected cove in Tsleil-Waututh territory. Planks from the winter houses were transported by canoe and used to construct the smaller summer structures. Using these camps as a base of operations, the Tsleil-Waututh made excursions to hunting, fishing and gathering locations as resources became seasonally available. Some of these resources were used immediately, while others were processed and stored for use during the winter.

In mid-July or early August, most of the Tsleil-Waututh, as well as other Coast Salish groups, traveled to the Fraser River to catch and dry the most favored type of salmon: sockeye. During this time, people would visit, exchange news of relatives, and form alliances. Large volumes of many kinds of berries were also harvested and dried during the summer months.

After the Fraser River run finished in the fall, our families would congregate in camps on the Indian, Capilano, Seymour and other rivers to fish for pink and chum salmon. Most of the catch was dried for winter use. By December our families returned to their winter villages with the provisions collected throughout the year, and the yearly cycle began again.

Despite vast changes that have been imposed within our traditional territory, some of our community members continue to practice a wide range of traditional activities. A key goal of the our community is to expand its participation in all planning and development processes so that the once abundant resources can be restored, protected, and utilized on a sustainable basis.

The Tsleil-Waututh First Nation Today

Today our community numbers approximately 375 members, most of which live on the Tsleil-Waututh reserve in North Vancouver. The band is currently undergoing a new building phase with many modern designed homes presently being built..

Our Economic Activities:Not too long ago Leonard George served as elected Chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation from 1989 to 2001 and in 1993 founded Native Strategic Investments Ltd. the company responsible for high quality real estate developments around the lower mainland including Takaya Developments seven development phases of the Raven Woods community. Native Strategic Investments has expanded into many other aspects of native economic development and is listed on the Canadian Venture Stock Exchange. Takaya Developments created Takaya Golf Centre and Driving Range and Takaya Tours an eco tourism venture. Another economic venture, Ravenwoods Development, boasts of 600 units, condominiums and town houses. 

Some of the other facilities and services available on reserve:Administration offices, Resource/Employment/ Education Centre, Child Jesus of Prague Church, the School bus, which transports kindergarten to Senior Secondary students to school. Just recently, The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has built a new Community Centre Gym and Fitness Centre and Daycare Centre which are both being fully utilized by band members for many activities.

Band Office Address: Tsleil-Waututh Nation 3075 Takaya Drive North Vancouver, B.C. V7H 2V6 Tel:    (604) 929-3454 Fax:   (604) 929-4714 Affiliations: Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council