Katzie First Nation

The Katzie Nation are based in Pitt Meadows B.C. and on Barnston Island and at Yorkson Creek in Langley, British Columbia. They traditionally speak the Upriver dialect of Halkomelem, one of the Salishan family of languages of the Coast Salish peoples. Traditional Katzie territory includes the entire Pitt watershed, including the Alouette watershed portions of the Fraser River and lands adjacent to the Fraser River. There are approximately 460 members of the Katzie Nation, but only about 300 live on one of the nation's five reserves.

The Kazie Nation once comprised of five communities from the region, each with its own chief. "Oe’lecten" and his people were based at what is now known as Pitt Lake, "Swaneset" at Sheridan Hill, "Xwoe’pecten" at Port Hammond (whose descendants became the Kwantlen), "Smakwec" at Point Roberts (whose people, the Nicomekl were largely killed in a smallpox epidemic in the 1700s), and "C’simlenexw" at Point Grey (whose descendents became the Musqueam). Today's Katzie are primarily the descendants of "Oe’lecten" and "Swaneset".

Although they consider themselves part of the Stó:lō family of peoples, the Katzie Nation are negotiating their land treaty independently, and are not part of the Tribal Council.

As the new Golden Ears Bridge is being constructed in Katzie territory, the nation signed a Benefit Agreement with Translink in September 2004 to establish the responsibilities of both parties.

External links

* [http://www.katzie.ca Katzie First Nation]