Scia'new First Nation

(Redirected from Becher Bay Indian Band)

The Sc'ianew First Nation or Beecher Bay First Nation is a First Nations group, governed by a band governmental body of the same name. They are a party involved in the Douglas Treaties and are negotiating a modern treaty as a member of the Te'mexw Treaty Association along with the Malahat, Nanoose, Songhees, and T'Souke Nations. The Sc'ianew First Nation number 261 (as of March, 2020).[1][2]

Map of Beecher Bay First Nation tribal territory
Marina at Spirit Bay in Becher Bay 1 Reserve

Sc'ianew lands are located on southern Vancouver Island in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and include Becher Bay, Fraser Island, Lamb Island, Long-neck Island, Twin Island, Village Island, and Whale Island.[3]

Languages

edit

The name "Sc'ianew" (pronounced CHEA-nuh in English) comes from the Klallam word for Becher Bay, "xʷčiyánəxʷ."[4] It means "the place of the big fish."[citation needed]

The group recognizes four ancestral languages though not all are currently spoken. Historically, the predominant language was Hul’q’umi’num’, the downriver dialect of the Halkomelem Language.[5]

References

edit
  1. ^ Reconciliation, Ministry of Indigenous Relations and. "Sc'ianew (Beecher Bay) First Nation - Province of British Columbia". www2.gov.bc.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  2. ^ "Beecher Bay". Te'mexw Treaty Association. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  3. ^ "Home — Sc'ianew First Nation (Beecher Bay)". beecherbay.ca. Retrieved 2022-10-31.
  4. ^ "Klallam Language". klallamlanguage.org. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
  5. ^ "The Halkomelem Language". www.ydli.org. Retrieved 2022-10-31.