Halalt First Nation
The Halalt (or Halalt First Nation ) is a Canadian First Nations in the province of British Columbia. They live on the east coast of Vancouver Iceland, north of Duncan. In August 2009 211 people were registered as members of the tribe.
The Halalt First Nation is one of the members of the Naut'sa Mawt Tribal Council, which together the tribes of the Burrard, Chemainus First Nation, the Snuneymuxw First Nation, Homalco, the Klahoose First Nation, the Sliammon and the Tsawwassen First Nation with respect to the Government of Canada represents. In addition, include the Halalt to the six tribes of the Hul'qumi'num group, which include even the Cowichan, Chemainus, Penelakut, Lyackson and Lake Cowichan.
History
The historic villages of Halalt lay on Willy Iceland before Chemainus and in the lower Chemainus Valley. Starting point was the village xeláltxw what " painted house" means, as the House post in this village were highlighted. This village was probably in the Cowichan Valley, more precisely in what is now the Silver Bridge the Cowichan River crossing, ie, in the southeast of Duncan. Cowichan and Chemainus ( Siyóletse and St'éts'en ) came from this village.
The residents later moved to the north of Willy Iceland, the largest of the Shoal Islands off the mouth of the Chemainus River. Presumably, this was done in the early 19th century, where they took the village name. In the new village were probably five or six houses. Although the island was added to the Halalt Reserve, the village was abandoned in the 20s. The residents moved into Westholme Reserve at the lower Chemainus ( Halalt No. 2). This had the following background: In October 1863 Governor James Douglas ordered some islands at the mouth of Chemainus River and the land around the " upper village " as " Indian Reserves " for the Halalt provide. But in 1867, these islands were confiscated in favor of a settler named Mainguy, and generous in return her possession of a 110- acre parcel set (now Halalt No. 2 ) ( Arnett, p 312), as well as the reserve on Willy Iceland.
As from 1913, the McKenna - McBride Commission visited the reserves, she suggested that the two Reserves of the " Chemainus Tribe, Halalt band ", " No. 1 - Halalt Iceland, 140.00 acres, and No. 2 - Halalt, should remain 287.00 acres. " Legal force received these proposals to the Commission until 1923.
Current Situation
The Chemainus River was similar to the Cowichan River, a water-rich river, but today more resembles a stream. For the growing coastal towns, especially Chemainus, more water is needed. The Halalt live near the river, on a base layer of water, which depends on this river. Thus their drinking water supply is determined by the water level of the river. However, the Municipality of North Cowichan has already applied for a higher water intake. The application is still under consideration. How vital is the Halalt her flow, Honour Our River showed ceremony on 14 September 2007. Purpose, the neighboring First Nations of Penelakut, Chemainus and Lyackson were invited, but also the inhabitants of Westholme, Chemainus and Thetis Iceland. After the construction work had begun in 2010 despite an ongoing lawsuit, the Halalt First Nation decided in February to build a blockade.
Reserves
The two reserves in the Halalt are Halalt Iceland 1 and 2 Halalt The former is on Willy Iceland in the mouth of the Chemainus River and covers 56.6 ha, the latter is located at the Chemainus River, about 3 km upstream of the confluence with the Stuart Channel and comprises 109, 2 ha live here the Halalt. In reserve were in August 2009, there were 94 Halalt, in other reserves further 13 104 registered Halalt lived outside the reserves. A total of 208 people are registered as Halalt. Their chief is James Robert ( Bert ) Thomas.