Lower Mainland Southwest

The large pre-European Coast Salish population numbered in the tens of thousands and was organized into sophisticated socio-economic structures, with many distinct communities and linguistic dialects. Communities existed along the Fraser River valley, in the present day city of Vancouver and in the surrounding mountainous mainland north to Bute Inlet. The Coast Salish also inhabited the Gulf Islands, the southern area of Vancouver Island including the City of Victoria and into modern-day United States along the coast of Washington and Oregon.

The Fraser River served as a major transportation artery, and its salmon run provided one of the largest single sources of food in the region. The relatively flat and fertile lands of the Fraser delta allowed for plentiful natural crops. The highly habitable and naturally productive capacity of the region supported the large pre-colonial population and economy; it is because of these characteristics that the Mainland Southwest became the colonial economic and population centre as well.

Initial economic drivers in the Lower Mainland Southwest were, like much of the rest of the province, initially the fur trade, then forestry and mining. Quickly, trade, finance, and manufacturing sectors emerged to manage and support the new colonial economy, and a rapidly growing population gave rise to service, health, and education sectors throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. The 1990’s and 2000’s also saw a strong technology sector emerge in the Mainland Southwest.

Regional First Nations were largely excluded from the colonial economic growth, but in recent history, significant steps towards reconciliation and economic partnership have been made.

With Vancouver serving as Canada’s primary trade gateway to Asia, the trade and financial services sectors today are dominant parts of the regional economy. Healthcare and social assistance, as well as professional, scientific and technical services, are also dominant sectors in terms of employment numbers. There has also been significant growth in the information, culture, and recreation sector. Transportation, education, secondary manufacturing, and agriculture continue to be core economic pillars.

In the area of the mainland that lies directly north of Metro Vancouver, logging and mining continue to play an important role, though proportionally a much smaller one than in other more rural regions of British Columbia.

Progress has been made towards Indigenous economic reconciliation, and inclusion of not only Indigenous communities, but also Indigenous values into contemporary economic development. Recent years have seen landmark economic partnerships, such as the Tsawwassen Mills development, though there is still much need for improved inclusion of First Nations partners in the productive Lower Mainland Southwest economic region. Development corporations— owned collectively by aligned Nations or by individual First Nations— are the primary vehicles by which First Nations pursue and advocate for sustainable economic development, and can be explored through the Community Profiles Section of this database.

In-SHUCK-ch Nation is comprised of Samahquam and Skatin, two individual First Nations of the larger St’át’imc (Stl’atl’imx) group, which has eleven member First Nations. In-SHUCK-ch Nation is also a member of the Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council.

Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council The Lower Stl’atl’imx Tribal Council represents the following five of the eleven St’at’imc First Nations: Samahquam, Skatin, Xa’xtsa, N’Quatqua, and Lil’wat.

St’át’imc Chiefs Council (SCC) is comprised of one Chief from each St’át’imc community. The St’at’imc communities are Bridge River (Xwisten), Pavilion (Ts’kw’aylaxw), Cayoose Creek (Sekw’al’was), Mt. Currie (Lil’wat), Lillooet (T’it’q’et), Fountain (Xaxli’p), Anderson Lake (N’Quatqua), Douglas (Xa’xtsa), Skatin, Samahquam, and Seton (Tsal’alh).

Naut’sa mawt Tribal Council is comprised of eleven Coast Salish First Nations: Halalt, Homalco, Klahoose, Malahat, Snaw-Naw-as (Nanoose), Snuneymuxw, Stz’uminus, Tla’amin, Tsawwassen, Tseil-Wau-Tuth, and T’Sou-Ke. Only Tsawwassen and Tseil-Wau-Tuth are located within the Lower Mainland Southwest region.

Nlaka’pamux First Nation Tribal Council is comprised of six Nlaka’pamux First Nations: Boothroyd, Boston Bar, Spuzzum, Skuppah, Oregon Jack Creek, and Lytton. Boothroyd, Boston Bar, and Spuzzum are located within the Lower Mainland Southwest, while Spuzzum, Skuppah, and Oregon Jack Creek fall within the Thompson Okanagan region.

Stó:lo Nation is the political amalgamation of eleven Stó:lō communities: Aitchelitz, Shxwha:y, Leq’ A: Mel, Squiala, Matsqui, Sumas, Popkum, Tzeachten, Skawahlook, Yakweakwioose, and Skowkale.

Stó:lo Tribal Council is an Aboriginal organization representing eight villages in the traditional Stolo territory. These villages include Shxw’ow’hamel, Seabird Island, Cheam, Chawathil, KwawKwawApilt, Scowlitz, Soowahlie and Kwantlen.

Sto:lo Xwexwilmexw Treaty Association is comprised of seven Sto:lo First Nation Bands who have joined together to negotiate with the federal and provincial governments in the B.C. Treaty Process. These bands include: Aitchelitz, Leq’a:mel, Popkum, Skawahlook, Skowkale, Tzeachten, and Yakweakwioose.