Yearly Archives: 2025

Happy International Women's Day! Today, we honour the strength, resilience, and leadership of Indigenous women—past, present, and future. From our mothers and grandmothers to the young women of today, you are the heart of our communities, carrying forward our traditions and shaping our future. Let’s keep pushing for equality, empowerment, and justice for women.

For decades, members of the Lyackson First Nation have been spread across Vancouver Island, unable to live on their reserve due to the lack of essential infrastructure. Now, thanks to a historic land acquisition and collaboration with Cowichan Tribes and the Province of B.C., Lyackson is preparing to build a new village, one that

Lyackson First Nation Special Newsletter – December 2024 Lyackson First Nation has released a special edition newsletter highlighting a historic milestone—the return of 312 hectares of land through an Incremental Treaty Agreement (ITA) with B.C. and Cowichan Tribes. This newsletter shares key details about the land transfer, the signing ceremony, and the collaborative efforts

Shana Thomas (Laxele'wuts'aat) begins her new role as Lyackson First Nation’s Hereditary Chief with an over $8 Million Land Back deal. Shana Thomas (Laxele'wuts'aat), continues the great work of Grand Chief Pahalicktun at Lyackson (Leey’qsun) First Nation (Jan.16, 2025 Cowichan Valley) – After a 25-year career successfully serving First Nations and First Nations organizations

The Province transferred 312 hectares of land near Skutz Falls Provincial Park to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes, setting the stage for the re-establishment of Lyackson’s Leey’qsun Village site on Vancouver Island.Before colonization, the Leey’qsun Village site existed near the mouth of the Cowichan River on Vancouver Island. However, Lyackson’s current reserve lands are

On September 10th and 11th, 2024, the Best Western Barclay Convention Centre hosted the first conference of its kind: The First Annual Indigenous Forestry Conference. This conference brought together Indigenous and settler leaders in forestry to address current challenges and potential solutions, share knowledge, build opportunities for collaboration, and cultivate

In 2024, under the guidance of Lyackson First Nation’s Consultations Coordinator, Karyn Scott, Lyackson built and launched an app to keep community members connected and informed. The purpose of the app is to create an opportunity to connect the community in a way that is more personalized and constructive than social media. In Scott’s words:

On September 14th, 2024, hundreds gathered at the Si’em Lelum Gym in Duncan, BC to honour the accomplishments of Chief Pahalicktun (Richard Thomas) of Lyackson First Nation. After 30 years of service as Chief, Grand Chief Pahalicktun retired from his role in September of 2024. He appointed his niece, Chief Laxele’wuts’aat (Shana Thomas), as his