(Redirected from Katzie)The 'Katzie Nation' are a
First Nation based on
Barnston Island and at Yorkson Creek in
Langley, British Columbia. They traditionally speak the Upriver dialect of
Halkomelem, one of the
Salishan family of languages of the
Coast Salish peoples. Traditional Katzie territory includes the entire
Pitt watershed, including the Alouette watershed portions of the Fraser River and lands adjacent to the Fraser River. There are approximately 460 members of the Katzie Nation, but only about 300 live on one of the nation's five reserves.
The Kazie Nation once comprised of five communities from the region, each with its own chief. ''Oe’lecten'' and his people were based at what is now known as Pitt Lake, ''Swaneset'' at Sheridan Hill, ''Xwoe’pecten'' at Port Hammond (whose descendents became the
Kwantlen), ''Smakwec'' at
Point Roberts (whose people, the
Nicomekl were largely killed in a
smallpox epidemic in the 1700s), and ''C’simlenexw'' at
Point Grey (whose descendents became the
Musqueam). Today's Katzie are primarily the descendence of ''Oe’lecten'' and ''Swaneset''.
Although they consider themselves part of the Stó:lŠfamily of peoples, the Kazie Nation are negotiating their land treaty independently, and are not part of the Tribal Council.
As the new
Golden Ears Bridge is being constructed in Katzie territory, the nation signed a Benefit Agreement with
Translink in September 2004 to establish the responsibilities of both parties.
External links
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Katzie First Nation