Tsawout First Nation

The Tsawout First Nation is a First Nations government located on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. They are a member of the Sencot'en Alliance.^[2] In the 1850s they were signatories to the Douglas Treaties.^[3] They speak the SENĆOŦEN language.^[4]

Tsawout First Nation
Band No. 654
SȾÁUTW̱

People	Saanich people
Treaty	Douglas Treaties
Province	British Columbia
Land[1]
Main reserve	East Saanich 2
Other reserve(s)	Bare Island 9 Fulford Harbour 5 Goldstream 13 Pender Island 8 Saturna Island 7
Land area	4.23 km2
Population (2024)[1]
On reserve	560
On other land	122
Off reserve	334
Total population	1016
Government[1]
Chief	Abraham Pelkey
Tribal Council[1]
Sencot'en Alliance
Website
tsawout.ca

Lands

East Saanich Indian Reserve No. 2, the Tsawout First Nation main village, is about 15 minutes north of the City of Victoria and lies on the east side of the Saanich Peninsula. East Saanich IR No. 2 is approximately 241 hectares in size.^[4]

There are also Tsawout reservations on Salt Spring Island (Fulford Harbour), Saturna Island, Mandarte Island, Pender Island, and Goldstream^[5]

Chief and Councillors

Position	Name	Term Start	Term End	Reference
Chief	Claxton, Nick	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Etzel, John	07/04/2015	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Etzel, Samantha	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Pelkey, Abraham	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Sam, Mary Ann	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Sam, Stanley	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Underwood, Bruce	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Underwood, Mavis	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]
Councillor	Wilson, John	07/04/2019	07/04/2021	[6]

Treaty Process

Not participating in BC Treaty Process.^[2]

History

Demographics

As of 2016 the Tsawout First Nation has 1,685 members.^[1]

Economic Development

Social, Educational and Cultural Programs and Facilities

On July 17, 2009, the Tsawout First Nation's longhouse community centre was burned down in a mysterious fire.^[7] Replacement for the burned structure could cost $500,000. The structure replaced the former community centre that burned down in 1978.^[7]

See also

• Douglas Treaties