Semá:th First Nation looks to expand reserve land in Abbotsford

The nation has purchased three Abbotsford properties and is waiting for federal approval to add them to their reserve lands

Author

Grace Kennedy
May 15, 2025

Semá:th Chief Dalton Silver (right) signs an agreement with the Province of British Columbia, returning a transformer site back to the First Nation in March of this year. The nation hopes to gain better control of more of its land by expanding its reserve to include three properties currently within the City of Abbotsford. 📷 Sumas First Nation/Facebook

This story first appeared in the May 15, 2025 edition of the Fraser Valley Current newsletter. Subscribe for free to get Fraser Valley news in your email every weekday morning.

The Semá:th First Nation hopes to bring more homes and better food security to its members with the creation of a new reserve at the base of Sumas Mountain.

The nation has applied to Indigenous Services Canada to begin the process of creating a new reserve and expanding its existing reserve near Highway 1. The properties are currently within the City of Abbotsford, and the city would have to agree to have the lands removed from its boundaries.

Subscribe to Premium to read the rest.

Become a paying subscriber of Premium to get access to this post and other subscriber-only content.

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

A subscription gets you:

  • • ♥️ Pride in supporting independent, local journalism
  • • 🔓 Full access to every story we publish and every newsletter we send
  • • 🎁 Local events, restaurants, discounts and perks
  • • 💌 Weekend roundup newsletter
  • • 🔑 Exclusive content
  • • 🗓 VIP access at future events
  • • 🎉 Special shoutouts from Tyler, Joti, and Grace

Reply

or to participate.