Tsartlip First Nation

The Tsartlip First Nation is a First Nation located on the Saanich Peninsula, in Saanich territory on Vancouver Island. They are a member of the Sencot'en Alliance fighting for Native rights.^[4] In the 1850s, they were signatories to one of the Douglas Treaties.^[5]

Tsartlip
Band No. 653
W̱JOȽEȽP

People	W̱SÁNEĆ
Treaty	Douglas Treaties
Headquarters	Brentwood Bay
Province	British Columbia
Land[1]
Main reserve	South Saanich 1
Other reserve(s)	Goldstream 13 Mayne Island 6 Seaus Island 10
Land area	3.3 km2
Population (2024)[2]
On reserve	540
On other land	121
Off reserve	407
Total population	1068
Government[3]
Chief	Don Tom
Website
tsartlip.com

The band's reserve and offices are located near and to the north of the town of Brentwood Bay.^[6]

Past Chiefs

Position	Name	Term Start	Term End	Reference
Chief	Don Tom	12/08/2021	12/07/2025	[7]
Chief	Ivan Morris	12/08/2011	12/07/2013
Chief	Wayne Morris	12/07/2007	12/06/2009

Treaty Process

Not participating in BC Treaty Process.^[4]

Demographics

As of December 2024, Tsartlip has 1,068 registered members, 540 of whom live on reserve, with 528 living off reserve or on other crown land.^[8]

Notable Tsartlip

• Adam Olsen, BC MLA for Saanich North and the Islands
• Jean Baptiste Paul, also known as Chief Thunderbird, 20th-century wrestler