page_title: Snuneymuxw First Nation
section_title: Territory and current land base
hierarchical_section_title: Snuneymuxw First Nation / Territory and current land base
caption_attribution_description: English: Nanaimo River estuary from the northern end of Shoreline Drive, Snuneymuxw First Nation.
context_page_description: The Snuneymuxw First Nation is currently located in and around Nanaimo on east-central Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Although the Snuneymuxw now only have a total reserve land base of 266 hectares, divided into small, separated reserves, they once occupied a wide region of south-central Vancouver Island where they lived for more than 5,000 years. Snuneymuxw Territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Fraser River in the British Columbia was in the center of Coast Salish territory. Their language is the Hul’qumi’num language.
  The Snuneymuxw First Nation is responsible for the operation of Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park.
  The Manson, Wyse, Good, Seward, White, Wesley, Brown, Johnny and Thomas families are prominent in the Snuneymuxw First Nation community.
context_section_description: Snuneymuxw Territory on the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Fraser River in the British Columbia was in the centre of Coast Salish territory.
  The band's traditional territory covers 980 km² (380 sq mi), but they share 1,040 km² (400 sq mi) of non-exclusive traditional territory with other First Nations of Canada.
  The Snuneymuxw First Nation received 877 hectares of land, consisting of three parcels of land, in the Mount Benson area, in March 2013 as part of a reconciliation agreement. Ida Chong, B.C. aboriginal relations and reconciliation minister, announced at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre that the land was "intended to provide forestry-related economic opportunities to generate revenue and employment" for the SFN.
  The Snuneymuxw previously only had a total reserve land base of 266 hectares with 4 small reserves on the shores of Nanaimo Harbour and Nanaimo River and two tiny reserves at Gabriola Island. Per capita the Snuneymuxw land base is the smallest reserve land base in British Columbia. The community was divided into four separate, numbered reserves near Nanaimo Harbour and Nanaimo River.
  The small size and odd shapes and locations of these reserves are visible on the interactive map provided by Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada. Reserve 1, consisting of several city blocks, is between a railroad track and the main highway that goes through Nanaimo. Reserve 2 is on the east bank of the Nanaimo River and is cut off from reserves 3 and 4 by the river. The river and river banks are not reserve land. All three are on the estuary and appear to be in a flood zone. These small reserves are bounded by the main Island Highway, Duke Point Highway and Cedar Road. They are surrounded by the city of Nanaimo but have not been fully serviced with water and sewage infrastructure resulting in underdevelopment of the reserve.
  According to the AANRC Profiles, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, band number 648 had six very small reserves.
  Nanaimo town 1, also known as Reserve No. 1, (AANRC number 06815) is located in the Nanaimo District on Nanaimo Harbour adjacent to the city of Nanaimo, south of Vancouver Island and consists of 22.40 hectares (55.4 acres).  There were 337 residents in 2011.
  Nanaimo River 2, also known as Reserve No. 2, (AANRC number 06816) is located in the Cranberry District on the left bank of the Nanaimo River near its mouth and consists of 53.80 hectares (132.9 acres). There were 26 residents in 2011. It has been dissolved and amalgamated with Nanaimo River.
  Nanaimo River 3, also known as Reserve No. 3, (AANRC number 06817) is located in the Cranberry District, point of Section 21, Range 1, and Sections 19 and 21 Range 7, near mouth of Nanaimo River, Vancouver Island and consists of 108.30 hectares (267.6 acres). Statistics Canada provides a precise map. There were 81 residents in 2011. It has been dissolved and amalgamated with Nanaimo River.
  Nanaimo River 4, also known as Reserve No. 4, (AANRC number 06818) is located in the Cranberry District, Sections 18 and 19, Range 8, 4 miles southwest of Nanaimo, on the east coast of Vancouver Island and consists of 80.10 hectares (197.9 acres).
  Gabriola Island 5 reserve (AANRC number 06819) is located in Nanaimo District, Section 1, on the west point at mouth of Degnen Bay, south of Gabriola Island and consists of 1 hectare (2.5 acres).
  Ma-guala 6 (AANRC number 06820) is located in Nanaimo District. It is a small island in Degnen Bay on the south shore of Gabriola island and consists of 0.40 hectares (0.99 acres).
  Nanaimo River Reserve, with 287 residents, is listed on 30 January 2013, as having undergone an amalgamation. Nanaimo River 2 and Nanaimo River 3 were dissolved and amalgamated into Nanaimo River Reserve.
caption: Nanaimo town 1
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