MEMBER INFORMATION

Peters First Nation is a small community on the banks of the Fraser River between Chilliwack and Hope, in the upper Fraser Valley of BC. Our Nation has 69 members, including 44 on-reserve, and 96 affiliate members for a total of 165 members and affiliates.

History of the People

We are Stó:lō, a people who have always occupied the territory between the areas currently known as Yale and Langley, British Columbia. Originally, Peters First Nation was referred to as Squatitch and its members spoke Halq’eméylem, hən’ ’qəmin’ ’əm, and Hul’q’umi’num’. Historically, we moved between communities throughout our territory, which was challenging to accommodate under the Indian Act in the late 1800s.

Traditional Territory

The traditional territory of Peters First Nation is situated in the Fraser Valley. From Peters First Nation, our territory extends north up the Fraser Canyon to Hell’s Gate, and to the north end of Harrison Lake at Port Douglas. The territory extends south to the U.S. border, and includes Chilliwack Lake and the Skaggit Valley. To the east, it extends almost all the way to the Tulameen River, and extends west to Stave Lake and Aldergrove. Our territory also includes Mount Cheam, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, and Mission.