Our History & Accomplishments

Discover the history and achievements of SC’IȺNEW First Nation.

Introduction

SC’IȺNEW Nation consistently builds upon the work of past SC’IȺNEW leaders and Elders to create a healthy community with abundant opportunity for all.

Explore SC’IȺNEW Nation’s history, initiatives to foster financial well-being in the community, land stewardship efforts, and treaty development work below.

1. Our History

SC’IȺNEW Nation, also known as Beecher Bay First Nation, is a band government currently located on a 307.70 hectare reserve on southern Vancouver Island. The current Chief of SC’IȺNEW Nation is Chief Russ Chipps, and Council members include Traci Pateman and Sheeba Sawyer.

Though not all are currently spoken, the Halq’eméylem, hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓, Hul’q’umi’num’, Lkwungen, Malchosen, Nəxʷsƛ̕ay̓əmúcən (Klallam), Semiahmoo, SENĆOŦEN, and T’Sou-ke languages are all recognized. The primary language is SENĆOŦEN.

XEMXIMELEḴ (Burt Charles) is one of the many important leaders of SC’IȺNEW Nation. As an Elder, Hereditary Chief, former Council Member, elected Chief for two decades, and current cultural educator, XEMXIMELEḴ has spent over 60 years leading the community.

During his time as elected Chief, XEMXIMELEḴ greatly improved the quality of life for the community. He brought electricity and running water to SC’IȺNEW Nation, restored the community’s traditional fishing rights, contributed to the founding of the Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs in 1969, worked to secure critical infrastructure such as new homes and paved roads, protested Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau’s White Paper, and wrote his own “Brown Paper,” which became foundational in the movement towards reconciliation.

His radical action extended to his own home, where he and his wife SPOȽTENOT (Lavina Charles) fought educational segregation by having their own daughter be the first child of SC’IȺNEW Nation to attend public school.

To learn more, visit the Royal Roads University website.

2. Building a Healthy, Sustainable Community

In 2018, Henry Chipps of SC’IȺNEW Nation worked as an elder in residence for elementary school students in the Sooke School District. In this role, he partnered alongside Raymond Jones Peter Jr. of Cowichan to teach students about important topics impacting Indigenous people, such as residential schools and Indian day schools. This work allowed students to learn about the harmful impacts of colonization through the first-hand experiences of Chipps and Peter, both of whom attended Indian day schools themselves.

To learn more, read the article in the Times Colonist.

In 2019, Traci-Lynn Pateman became the first new councillor elected to the SC’IȺNEW Nation in over a decade. Now in her second term, she plays a key role in policy creation and community development, while also assisting with land management. Traci is committed to serving her Nation and leaving a lasting impact.

In 2022, Chief Russ Chipps was elected to a seat on the Sooke School District’s School Board with 6,112 votes. Chief Chipps – who was once a student in the District – is committed to helping today’s youth have a positive and inclusive experience, and to ensuring graduation rates among Indigenous students continue to rise.

To learn more, read the article in the Vancouver Island Free Daily.

In 2013, SC’IȺNEW Nation finalized plans for a new on-reserve housing development meant to bring economic opportunity to the Nation. The housing development – called Spirit Bay – includes sustainably-built homes, holiday cottages, a spa, and a commercial centre.

To learn more, read the article in the Times Colonist.

In November of 2023, SC’IȺNEW Nation received $5.4 million from Ottawa’s Cultural Spaces in Indigenous Communities Program to build a cultural centre at Spirit Bay, a housing development built to usher in a prosperous future for the next generation.

The cultural centre will create a central hub in the already-bustling town of Spirit Bay, which features an oil-spill response centre, a fishing marina, and many more amenities.

To learn more, read the article in the Times Colonist.

In January of 2022, BC Transit launched a new bus route connecting SC’IȺNEW Nation to Langford and East Sooke. This exciting launch – which relied on the cooperation of BC Transit, the Victoria Regional Transit Commission, and the Ministry of Transportation – is thanks in large part to the persistent efforts of Chief Russ Chipps.

The route – which provides service on weekdays – will bring new opportunities to community members, making it easier to build successful, abundant lives.

To learn more read the Chek News article.

On March 14th, 2017, the B.C. Legislature recognized a land swap between SC’IȺNEW Nation, Langford, and Metchosin.

The swap included the transfer of 250 acres of treaty lands from SC’IȺNEW Nation to Metchosin in exchange for a stake in a new business park development. All 350 acres of land used for the business park were placed within Langford to allow access to necessary infrastructure, creating a mutually-beneficial partnership between SC’IȺNEW Nation, Metchosin, and Langford.

This agreement and the resulting revenue for SC’IȺNEW Nation creates greater opportunities for the community.

To learn more, read the article in the Times Colonist.

3. Land Stewardship, and Recognition

In early 2022, SC’IȺNEW Nation and several supporters announced a shared intention to designate the land known as Mary Hill – a 136-hectare piece of land held by the Department of National Defence – as an Indigenous Protected and Conserved Area (IPCA). In 2024, community feedback led SC’IȺNEW to use the term “Tribal Park” rather than IPCA.

If the Tribal Park is established, SC’IȺNEW Nation will be the primary protectors and stewards of the land, an important transition given the land is home to several at-risk species, is part of a rare ecosystem, and is a core part of the SC’IȺNEW Nation’s traditional territory.

Treaty negotiations are underway to transfer Mary Hill from the Department of National Defence to SC’IȺNEW Nation via SC’IȺNEW Nation’s work with the Te’mexw Treaty Association.

To learn more, read the article in Indiginews and visit the official SC’IȺNEW Tribal Park website.

In 2023, SC’IȺNEW Nation – alongside several other nations – renewed its traditional role as steward of the Salish Sea by introducing 12 specialized vessels, including a 52-foot oil-spill response ship, vessels used for daily environmental monitoring, and more. These efforts are in part to protect the Sea from the impacts of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project.

The vessels combine a traditional understanding of stewardship with new technologies to ensure the SC’IȺNEW Nation is at the forefront of protecting the animals and ecosystems of the Salish Sea, all while creating jobs and skill-developing opportunities for the community.

To learn more, read the article in Coast Reporter.

In late 2021, SC’IȺNEW Nation gifted Pearson College SENĆOŦEN names and artwork for the college’s five student dormitories. Each dormitory is named after a specific species of Pacific Salmon, representing renewal and determination.

Pearson College is located on the traditional territory of SC’IȺNEW Nation, and the new names and artwork provide important recognition of that fact. They are also a reflection of the college’s commitment to ground education in Indigenous knowledge and environmental stewardship.

Chief Russ Chipps and Elders Rick Peter and Henry Chipps joined the college’s students and staff to celebrate the renaming on November 18, 2021.

To learn more, read the article on Island Social Trends.

In 2023, SC’IȺNEW Nation gifted the Sooke School District with a SENĆOŦEN name for its newest facility. The name is SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ, which means “salmon children.”

The naming of SĆIȺNEW̱ SṮEȽIṮḴEȽ – which is located on the traditional territory of SC’IȺNEW Nation – is an important act of reconciliation, particularly considering the historical forced erasure of Coast Salish language and culture from schools.

To learn more, read the Times Colonist article.

4. Reclaiming Our Rights

SC’IȺNEW Nation is one of five nations that make up the Te’mexw Treaty Association, a nonprofit organization working to negotiate five modern treaties with the colonial government.

As part of the Association, SC’IȺNEW Nation is working to create its own just and fair Treaty and Constitution that address the topics missed in the Douglas Treaties. The ultimate goal is to reach an agreement with the federal and provincial governments that results in land ownership and self-governance. The Treaty is expected to include the transfer of Mary Hill to SC’IȺNEW Nation.

To learn more, visit the Te’mexw Treaty Association website.