Projects
Projects
Stewardship
The Tribe has been entrusted with the stewardship of the Traditional Territory where it exercises Aboriginal Rights and Title on behalf of the seven member communities. Our stewardship initiatives ensure that the Tribe’s natural resources are sustainably maintained, preserving Ts’elxwéyeqw cultural sites and traditions and connecting past and future generations (Tómiyeqw).
Here are some projects we have been busy with!
Land Studies
Our terrestrial based research projects explore the landscape of the ancestral home of the Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe. Our most recent alpine based investigations looked at the impact and influence of colonization on the land, such as climate change, recreation use and logging. Airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) gathered baseline data to be used as reference for quantitative and qualitative impacts to forestry, cultural sites, and heritage. Ground truthing these high elevation environments further supplemented the LiDAR data. We gathered water, soil, and tree-ring core samples from upper alpine locations to better understand the health of the terrestrial ecosystems in the Chilliwack River Watershed.
Restoration Projects
Some current restoration projects in development aim to improve aquatic habitat for salmonids and other species of concern in the Chilliwack River Watershed and Vedder floodplain. Working in collaboration with the Lower Fraser Fisheries Alliance and Fraser Valley Watershed Coalition, these projects also look to increase capacity by providing technical training to the S’ólh Téméxw Guardians for monitoring and maintenance activities, invasion, and bioengineering.
Sx̱ótsaqel/Chilliwack Lake
Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe in collaboration with BC Parks, is drafting a multi-year, park management plan for Sxótsaqel / Chilliwack Lake Park, including the recent renaming of the park to reflect its Halq’eméylem place name. The plan will identify stewardship issues relating to Ts’elxwéyeqw heritage, spiritual and cultural values, water quality, protection of natural values, ecological integrity, and management of recreational uses among other areas. It is the only such plan in S’ólh Téméxw, and one of few within the Province of British Columbia.
S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Guardians
Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe has collaborated and co-developed the S’ólh Téméxw Guardian program. The S’ólh Téméxw Guardians monitor cultural heritage sites and environmental hotspots in the Ts’elxwéyeqw tribal territory, as well as concerns relating to wildlife.
Conservation of Species, Ecosystems and Indigenous Values in S’ólh Téméxw (CoVIST)
Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe collaborates on the CoVIST (Conservation of Species, Ecosystems and Indigenous Values in S’ólh Téméxw) project that helps to manage species at risk in our traditional territory. In partnership with the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance (STSA), Ministry of Land, Water and Resource Stewardship (LWRS) and federal government, CoVIST aims to conduct landscape-scale planning to focus conservation efforts in areas that optimize benefits for Species at Risk and Indigenous Values. Some proposed actions include habitat protection, restoration and enhancement, stewardship, or land securement.
Forestry
TTML is developing Old Growth Stewardship and Cedar Management Strategies for Ts’elxwéyeqw Traditional Territory. These strategies are aimed at protecting vulnerable forests ecosystems, enhancing biodiversity, and ensuring that cedar of all sizes and ages is available for future generations. The strategies will guide forestry practices in Ts’elxwéyeqw Territory.
The Tribe has been entrusted with the stewardship of the Traditional Territory where it exercises Aboriginal Rights and Title on behalf of the seven member communities. Our stewardship initiatives ensure that the Tribe’s natural resources are sustainably maintained, preserving Ts’elxwéyeqw cultural sites and traditions and connecting past and future generations (Tómiyeqw).
Here are some projects we have been busy with!
Forest Stewardship Program
The Forest Stewardship Plan (FSP) is a landscape level plan, which is focused on establishing results, strategies and measures for conserving and/or protecting timber and non-timber resource values associated with forest management activities.
The FSP states measurable and enforceable results, strategies and/or measures that must be consistent with objectives set by government for a variety of forest values (e.g. fisheries, wildlife, water, biodiversity, cultural values, visuals, recreation, etc.). Forest licensees work in cooperation with government agencies, First Nations, various stakeholders and the general public to ensure that the provincial government’s objectives for the management, protection and conservation of forest resources are achieved.
Please click here to view Ts’elxwéyeqw Forestry Limited Partnership’s (TFLP) supporting information.
Community Support and Engagement
Sponsorship
TTML operates in a manner beneficial to the Ts’elxweyeqw Tribe and the Stó:lō people, budgeting annually for its sponsorship program, open to Tribe members, which includes categories such as: Community events, sports teams, fundraising support, education bursaries and wood donations for cultural uses.
Stó:lō Nation Golf Tournament
The annual Golf tournament is always a popular event!
Stó:lō Children’s Festival
Prior to 2020, the Stó:lō Children’s Festival was a fun an interactive event for children and families. We hope to be able to provide information and support to our communities for this event again soon!
Referrals
People of the River Referrals Office
The People of the River Referrals Office (PRRO) began operating in 2012, working on behalf of the S’ólh Téméxw Stewardship Alliance (STSA) communities. Through the web-based portal Stó:lō Connect, the PRRO provides administrative support and technical review of referral submissions from interested governments, industry, and corporation, looking to develop within S’ólh Téméxw. The PRRO staff receive, analyze, report on and track referrals and facilitates info-sharing and engagement internally among STSA communities and externally between STSA, governments, and industry. Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe is part of STSA and works closely with PRRO in processing referrals on land and natural resource related projects proposed within the Tribe’s traditional territory.
Communications
We strive for service excellence by fostering a culture of trust and approachability, improving operations to best support, respond and be accountable to community members. Our website aims to be a hub of information for members to use for planning, communication, and updates.
Being Ts’elxwéyeqw
In 2019, Ts’elxwéyeqw Tribe published a book titled, Being Ts’elxwéyeqw: First Peoples’ Voices and History from the Chilliwack-Fraser Valley, British Columbia. The 303-page book is full of more than 700 images and stories from past and present elders and community members that have been passed along for hundreds of years. Copies are for sale at the Stó:lō Gift Shop on Vedder Road.
Chilliwack River Valley Signage and Information Kiosks
Dotted around the Chilliwack River Valley are information kiosks presenting photos and descriptions about Ts’elxwéyeqw culture – from native plant species to known historical traditions and educational points of interest. These kiosk signs are informative and interesting! Check them out!