The Kwikwetlem First Nation, also known as the Coquitlam Indian Band, is the band government of the Kwikwetlem, a Sto:lo people living in the Coquitlam area of British Columbia, Canada. They traditionally speak the Downriver dialect of hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, one of the Salishan family of languages. The name Kwikwetlem (Halkomelem: kʷikʷəƛ̓əm) refers to "red fish up the river".[3]
 Approximate ancestral territory | |
| People | Kwikwetlem Sto꞉lo |
|---|---|
| Treaty | None[Note 1] |
| Headquarters | Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1, Coquitlam |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Land | |
| Main reserve | Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1 |
| Other reserve(s) |
|
| Land area | 0.84 km2 |
| Population (2021) | |
| On reserve | 55[1] |
| Total population | 123[2] |
| Government | |
| Chief | Ron Giesbrecht |
| Council size | 3 |
| Council |
|
| Website | |
| Kwikwetlem First Nation | |
The Nation is made up of two reserves, a small 2.6-hectare site near the mouth of the Coquitlam River where it drains into the Fraser River, and a much larger 82-hectare site approximately 2.5 km north.[4] About 36% of all Kwikwetlem members live on Coquitlam No. 1, 43% live elsewhere in Canada, and roughly 21% reside throughout the United States.[5]
Government
The band is led by an elected council, with the current term running from April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2027:[6]
- Chief: Ron Giesbrecht
- Councillor: George Chaffee
- Councillor: John Peters
Geography
Historically, the Kwikwetlem's territory covered and extended a moderate distance beyond the Coquitlam River and Pitt River watersheds. Today, there are two Indigenous Reserves under the administration of the Kwikwetlem First Nation.[4]
Coquitlam 1
Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 1 (Halkomelem: slakəyánc, lit. 'young sockeye') is the main reserve for the Kwikwetlem Nation, housing its administrative offices and all of its on-reserve population. It is situated at an ancient village site. It has an area of 6.5 acres (2.63 ha).
Coquitlam 2
Coquitlam Indian Reserve No. 2 (Halkomelem: setɬamékmən, lit. 'when the tide is high we go') is the secondary reserve of the Kwikwetlem Nation. Making up the vast majority of the total reserve land, it has an area of approximately 200 acres (80.94 ha). Planning for the development of the area began in 2020.[7]