The K’Omoks First Nation is poised to initial an historic treaty on Monday, but the Wei Wai Kum Nation in Campbell River has concerns about how other nations’ rights and title will be affected.
Wei Wai Kum elected chief councilor Chris Roberts said in a statement Friday that the ceremony should be delayed. According to a Times-Colonist report, he says K’Omoks have overstepped their territory, and suggested with the treaty they are trying to take back lands claimed by the Laich-kwil-tach people through the right of conquest dating back to the early 19th century.
“The four main Laich-kwil-tach tribes had their own respective areas that they would use and occupy independently, they would often at times travel together and during early times would spend the Winters together at Topaze Harbour (Tekya). The Laich-kwil-tach were notorious for waging warfare together and raiding of various Salish origin tribes to the south,” according to a research report posted online by the Wei Wai Kum nation.
“In fact, it was an aggressive migration southward of the Laich-kwil-tach which displaced Salish tribes from areas of Loughborough Inlet, sites along the Johnstone Straits, Kelsey Bay, Quadra Island and Campbell River. The reasons for this southward migration of the Laich-kwil-tach are not clear but it is evident that this occurred into periods right up the mid-19th century.”
The K’Omoks say that “following contact with Europeans, northern groups started a southerly move into K’Omoks territory. A period of conflict displaced the K’Omoks southward to their relatives, the Puntledge,” reads information published by the K’Omoks nation on their website.
Land near Sayward at the mouth of the Salmon River, approximately 133 hectares, was added to the K’Omoks Reserve in 1940. The Wei Wai Kum say those lands are part of the larger Laich-kwil-tach Nation. Their concerns about the new treaty are mainly about those lands.
The K’Omoks Nation still plans to go ahead with Monday’s ceremony.
