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.

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Ronald Joe 1 year ago

In all honesty they shouldn’t have had to buy it back. Real truth & reconciliation would be to just hand it back to the community that it once belonged to.

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Jo Lester1 year ago

I disagree. The rights of non indigenous people also matter as seen by the recent ruling in tsawassen.

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Patricia Ross1 year ago

I would like to correct the characterization that Councillor Gibsons question “What’s in it for us?”sums up councils concerns. It does not. In fact, nowhere in the report that we endorsed does it ask that. Because we provide some services, we were outlining some potential capacity issues. But to ask “What’s in it for us” was, in my personal opinion, completely inappropriate and even offensive.

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Stojan Ninkovic1 year ago

I think our councilor asked the right question because he represents the taxpayers and residents of Abbotsford and that is "us". Whats in it for us is part of the negotiation process and is appropriate. What is not appropriate Pat is thinking Simon's question is inappropriate. Given his responsibility as a City councilor he should be asking questions.

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Deb Anonymous 1 year ago

Does this impact the McKay Creek park and Trail? Will the new territories allow people outside of the nation's to visit the new parks and outdoor spaces?

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josh g1 year ago

Based on the maps, no, McKay Creek park is outside of the area.

I find the question of whether the Semá:th nation would allow people to enjoy nature in their proposed expansion to be, I dunno, kind of ironic.

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