The Nanoose xwulmuxw mustimuxw reside in a territory around Nanoose Bay, in the Northern outskirts of Nanaimo, British Columbia. We are hul'q'umi'num' speakers, one of many tribes within the Salish Sea to speak this native tongue. It has been used to carry sacred teachings from our ancestors, although its use has been staggered by the affects of residential school, our people are maximizing its potential to ensure our dialect remains strong amidst the histories.

Our reserve has a small land base, along with many other First Nations have to address this shortfall and overcome it with scarce resources. Along with size being a factor we are seperated by the E & N railway, and the Island Highway, splitting our once wholesome reserve in half.

The ancestors of Nanoose relied on their environment for survival, as such, they developed a very special relationship to their land, with their traditions and oral history linking them into the environmental and seasonal cycle of their territories. On a diet of wild meats such as Deer, Bear, Elk; also with its traditional diets of salmon, clams, oysters. In the traditional territories of Nanoose they became skilled hunters, and exceeded handsomely from its bay, the ocean, its beaches and surrounding environment.

We are Coast Salish people along with dozens of tribes around the East Side of Vancouver Island, portions fo the South Western region of British Columbia, Oregon & Washington State.

Facts:

• We went from a longhouse environment, to a 5 home reserve in the 70's, to a 90 home environment in 2010
• Our children make up 25% of the school population in Seaview Elementary
• Our team received the Sterling Award for Environmental Sustainability in 2009, for restoring a natural habitat on our beaches with the Greenshores Project
• The Te'Mexw Treaty Association has enhanced the rights & exercises of aboriginal people at large
• Our state of the art sewer plant is one of the top 5 in British Columbia
• Our population is evergrowing at 270 "registered" members, and many more spread out throughout the island, and mainland
• We are re-capturing our essence as Xwulmuxw Mustimuxw by exercising our traditional practices
• We're re-acquiring our true control in relation to jurisdiction over our own lands with the culmination of our Land Code
• We are in the process of enhancing the success of our future through Comprehensive Community Planning
• We were instrumental in the formation of Qop Thut Sulxwen Society
• Our Youth Council represents and speaks to the issues at the provincial level
• We have prime commercial lands for booming economic development ventures
• Our shellfish aquaculture leases are amongst the biggest tenures on Vancouver Island
• The Bob & White case directly advocated for aboriginal rights for First Nations (David Bob)