 | |
 The shíshálh Nation swiya (world, "Territory") is located to the northwest ofVancouver,British Columbia (left inset) | |
| People | Coast Salish |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | ch'atlich (Sechelt) |
| Province |  British Columbia |
| Land[1] | |
| Main reserve | Sechelt 2 |
| Other reserve(s) | List
|
| Land area | 10.3 km2 |
| Population (2025)[1] | |
| On reserve | 607 |
| On other land | 31 |
| Off reserve | 1054 |
| Total population | 1692 |
| Government[1] | |
| Chief | Lenora Joe |
| Council | 2023-2026
|
| Website | |
| shishalh | |
| People | shíshálh |
|---|---|
| Language | she sháshíshálhem |
| Country | shíshálh swíya |
shíshálh Nation (also spelledShishalh) is aFirst Nation located on theSunshine Coast ofBritish Columbia, Canada. Theirswiya (world, 'Territory’) comprises 515,000 hectares that stretches from xwesam (Roberts Creek) in the southeast, to x̱enichen (Jervis Inlet) in the north, to kwekwenis (Lang Bay) in the southwest.[2]
The language of the shíshálh people isshe shashishalhem orSechelt, a Coast Salish language most closely related toSquamish,Halkomelem, andNooksack.[3] In the 1970s, nation elders began efforts to revive the she shashishalhem language. The band collaborated withUniversity of British Columbia linguist Ron Beaumont to create a Sechelt Dictionary.[3][4]
Thetems swiya Museum is a cultural heritage museum owned and operated by the shíshálh Nation and located within their administrative complex inch’atlich (Sechelt), British Columbia.[5][6]
Historically, there were four main shíshálh settlements atḵalpilin (Pender Harbour),ts’unay (Deserted Bay),x̱enichen, andtewankw nearalhtulich (Porpoise Bay).[2][7]
As the Europeans arrived in the region, the shíshálh people experienced numerous changes. Disease (especially smallpox) became rampant, and resulted in a severe decrease of the shíshálh population at their various ancestral settlements.[8]
shíshálh Nation is governed by an elected Chief and Council. Inshe shashishalhem, the word for "chief" ishiwus, and the word for councilor ishihewus. The Nation holds an election every three years.[9]
In 1986, shíshálh Nation became the firstindigenous government in Canada to regainself-government under theshíshálh Nation Self-Government Act (formerly known as theSechelt Indian Self-Government Act).[10] The Act established theshíshálh Nation Government District (sNGD), a First Nations government district comprising 33 former "Indian Reserve" parcels, now known as 'shíshálh Nation Lands' or 'SNL'. The Act further enabled the sNGD to qualify for municipal benefits available to other municipalities in BC, such as to enact laws, bylaws, and taxes.[3]
shíshálh Nation entered into negotiations independently with Canada and British Columbia under theBC Treaty Process in 1994, and reached Stage 3, Negotiation of a Framework Agreement, by August, 1995. Negotiations stalled thereafter in Stage 4 and the Nation is listed as "Not Currently Negotiating" by the BC Treaty Commission.[11]
On October 4, 2018, shíshálh Nation and theProvince of British Columbia signed a landmark reconciliation agreement that supportsself-determination and shíshálh self-government. The agreement is a commitment to working together to protect the environment, as well as promote economic opportunity and growth for the shíshálh Nation and the entire Sechelt region.[12]
The agreement included the transfer of lands, as well as commitment to a framework of shared decision-making for forestry, moorages, and other land and resource authorizations within the shíshálh swiya.[13]
Pat John (1953–2022), actor inThe Beachcombers