The people of Snaw'Naw'As have occupied mother earth for many generations, we have strong ties to the land, the waters, the mountains, the animals and the people that reside in this area of Vancouver Island.

We are Coast Salish descendents living on the Northern portion of the Salish Sea, the land mass that traditionally belongs to us should not be measured, through countless generations of history we know that our hunting grounds occupy many acres of territory. Although our main village site is located on the westside of Nanoose Bay, throughout history we've come to the conclusion that we have had many village sites in and around this protected bay, and further north of our current village site.

We share a dialect with our partner tribes along Vancouver Island, and Mainland called Hul'q'umi'num', with many varying aspects of this native tongue we fight to ensure its survival for our childrens grand-children & the future. We as a people have strong ties to the land and through our spiritual connection we possess beautiful traditions, and cultures that reflect our history as a first nations people.

We are amongst 4 other bands along the East Side of Vancouver Island that make up our Treaty Negotiations; the Te'Mexw Treaty Society is our team of the 5 nations working in combination; the five Te'mexw Member First Nations initially joined together with one common objective to support one another and combine forces to work together under one organization to negotiate a treaty under the British Columbia Treaty Process.

Songhees (Lekwungen), Nanoose (Snaw-naw-as), Beecher Bay (Scia'new), T'Sou-ke, and Malahat all share common history, culture and experiences with federal and provincial governments. Each of these member first nations is descendants of the original signatories of the Douglas Treaties on the mid-nineteenth century.

Along with our treaty negotiations we are also under another Self Governing process known as the Land Management Code, initially formed when 14 First Nations groups in B.C. wanted to take the land management into their own hands, and take the control out of the Indian Act. Our Land Code and its Committee were one of the last of 25 First Nations to start and develop its Land Management Code, we seek to maintain jurisdiction over our lands and to have the ability to decide on developments occuring on reserve lands.

Canoe Race in Nanoose Aug. 08th-09th!!!

Coast Salish Games - Support your Children! Cowichan BC; July 15-17th

Education Celebration a Huge Success, Congratulations to all our children! Good Luck next year!!!!!

Playground Project: Named

"Thuythut Huwalum" Prepare to Play!

THUYTHUT HUWALUM

"Prepare to Play"

Sterling Award Green Shore Project