Stz'uminus First Nation

The Stz'uminus First Nation (formerly known as the Chemainus Indian Band and Chemainus First Nation) is a First Nations government located in southeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, near the town of Ladysmith, British Columbia. The Stz'uminus First Nation is a member government of the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council. In early 2009, chief and council unanimously passed a band council resolution to officially change the name from Chemainus to Stz'uminus in order to reflect its original Hul'qumi'num language name.

Thumb — traditional territory claimed by the Chemainus First Nation

In March 2008, the Stz'uminus First Nation representative George Harris proposed renaming the nearby Strait of Georgia as the Salish Sea, an idea that reportedly met with approval by B.C.'s Aboriginal Relations Minister Mike de Jong, who pledged to put it before the B.C. cabinet for discussion. Renaming would require a formal application to the Geographical Names Board of Canada.^[1] The name was formally adopted as of the Throne Speech opening the BC Legislature on February 9, 2010.^[2]

The Salish Sea name has been used by the Coast Salish Gathering,^[3] a trans-boundary organization of Coast Salish leaders, since 2007. The Stz'uminus First Nation's largest Indian reserve, Chemainus Indian Reserve No. 13, is located on Stuart Channel, which is one of the countless smaller waterways within the Salish Sea as defined.

The Salish Sea name was originally proposed by Bert Webber from Bellingham, Washington in March, 1989,^[4] for the Strait of Georgia, Puget Sound and the Strait of Juan de Fuca and all adjoining waters.