The We Wai Kai Nation, also known as the Wewaikai First Nation, the Cape Mudge First Nation and the Cape Mudge Indian Band, is the
band government of the
We Wai Kai subgroup of the
Laich-kwil-tach
Laich-kwil-tach (also spelled Ligwilda'xw), is the Anglicization of the Kwak'wala autonomy by the "Southern Kwakiutl" people of Quadra Island and Campbell River in British Columbia, Canada. There are today two main groups (of perhaps five origi ...
(also Legwildok or Euclataws or Yucultas or "Southern Kwakiutl") group of the
Kwakwaka'wakw peoples, based on
Quadra Island
Quadra Island is a large island off the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada. It is part of the Discovery Islands, in the Strathcona Regional District.
Etymology
In 1903, the island was named after the Peruvian Spanish n ...
offshore from
Campbell River, British Columbia,
Canada
Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...
, which is on the east coast of
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
at the northern end of the
Strait of Georgia. The Laich-kwil-tach include the Wei Wai Kum, who are organized as the
Campbell River First Nation, and the
Kwiakah Nation, whose traditional territory is in the
Discovery Islands
The Discovery Islands are a group of islands located at the northern end of the Salish Sea and the eastern end of Johnstone Strait, between Vancouver Island and the mainland coast of British Columbia, Canada.
Most of these islands have very fe ...
to the northeast of that city and on the adjoining mainland coast. All three are part of the
Kwakiutl District Council The Kwakiutl District Council, also spelled Kwakwewlth District Council and Kwakiuth District Council, pronounced Kwagiulth District Council, is a First Nations Tribal Council based on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, Canada, based in the comm ...
, a
tribal council which includes other Kwakwaka'wakw bands farther northwest in the
Queen Charlotte Strait
, image = Canadian pilot, near Port Hardy BC.jpg
, alt =
, caption = A pilot boat plies Queen Charlotte Strait near Port Hardy
, image_bathymetry = Locmap-QCS-Hecate-Dixon.png
, alt_bathymetry = ...
region and on northern
Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is an island in the northeastern Pacific Ocean and part of the Canadian province of British Columbia. The island is in length, in width at its widest point, and in total area, while are of land. The island is the largest by ...
.
Indian Reserves
Indian Reserves
In Canada, an Indian reserve (french: réserve indienne) is specified by the '' Indian Act'' as a "tract of land, the legal title to which is vested in Her Majesty,
that has been set apart by Her Majesty for the use and benefit of a band."
Ind ...
under the band's administration are:
We Wai Kai Nation website
/ref>
* Village Bay Indian Reserve No. 7, 4.11 ha. in size, uninhabited (east coast of Quadra Island)
* Open Bay Indian Reserve No. 8, 5.2 ha. in size, uninhabited (east coast of Quadra Island)
* Drew Harbour Indian Reserve No. 9, 96.6 ha. in size; site of the We Wai Kai Campsite, a band-run business (east side of Quadra Island; also the site for the We Wai Kai Scallop Farm which is located in Suitl Channel.
* Cape Mudge Indian Reserve No. 10, 458 ha. Site of the band-run businesses and services: the Tsa-Kwa-Luten Lodge, the Boatworks, the Nuyumbalees Culture Centre (formerly the Kwaguith Museum), the Band Administration Office, pre-school/daycare and approximately 65 homes for the Nations citizens and their families.
* Quinsam Indian Reserve No. 12, 121 ha. Site of 121 hectares in size. Over 100 residential homes for their citizens and a 43 acre economic development zone. The Quinsam Reserve also is the site of several businesses and services: a Shell gas station, Lee's Famous Ribs and Chicken, the Quinsam Liquor Store, the administration offices of the We Wai Kai Nation, the KDC Kwakiuth District Council, The Cape Mudge Band Learning Centre, the offices of the Aboriginal Headstart Program, and the Quinsam Wellness Centre.
Chief and councillors
As of January 2015 (1 year term)
Chief Councillor - Brian Assu,
Councillor - Ronnie Chickite,
Councillor - Ted Assu,
Councillor - Daniel Billy,
Councillor - Kim Duncan,
Councillor - Cindy Inrig,
Councillor - Ted Lewis,
Councillor - Keith Wilson Sr.,
Councillor - TBD
British Columbia Treaty Process
They are a member government of the negotiating group for the BC Treaty Process
The British Columbia Treaty Process (BCTP) is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues, including claims to un-extinguished indigenous rights, with British Columbia's First Nations.
Two treaties have be ...
known as the Hamatla Treaty Society
The Hamatla Treaty Society handles Treaty negotiations in the BC Treaty Process for a number of First Nations located in the northern Strait of Georgia of British Columbia.
Membership
* Campbell River Indian Band (We Wai Kum Nation)
* Cape Mudg ...
, and are also constituted for treaty negotiation purposes as the Laich-kwil-tach Council of Chiefs.The treaty society members are in Stage 4 of the BC Treaty Process
The British Columbia Treaty Process (BCTP) is a land claims negotiation process started in 1993 to resolve outstanding issues, including claims to un-extinguished indigenous rights, with British Columbia's First Nations.
Two treaties have be ...
.
Demographics
The We Wai Kai Nation has over 1100 registered members, living both on and off reserve.
Notable We Wai Kai Nation people
* Sonny Assu, interdisciplinary artist
* Jody Wilson-Raybould, Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations
The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is an assembly of Canadian First Nations (Indian bands) represented by their chiefs. Established in 1982 and modelled on the United Nations General Assembly, it emerged from the National Indian Brotherhood, ...
, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada
The minister of justice and attorney general of Canada () is a dual-role portfolio in the Canadian Cabinet.
The officeholder in the role of Minister of Justice () serves as the minister of the Crown responsible for the Department of Justice an ...
from 2015 to 2019
* Chief Billy Assu
References
{{Kwakwaka'wakw
Kwakwaka'wakw governments
Mid Vancouver Island
Discovery Islands