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 across BC, Shana Thomas (Laxele’wuts’aat) is stepping into a new role as the Hereditary Chief for Lyackson First Nation. This position allows Thomas to continue the momentum of previous leadership to advance the interests of the Nation. Thomas, working with the all-female elected council of Lyackson, has released an Action Plan now available on the Nation’s newly launched website. Priorities include Nation rebuilding, additional Landback opportunities, and strengthening the economic arm of the Nation.

[Direct quote]
“I have dedicated my education and my life’s work to advancing the interests of our people, it is such an honour to humbly accept these responsibilities and act in accordance with my name (Laxele’wuts’aat) which is a war Chief’s name. Today’s war is a paper war, and I have been in training through over 20 years of sitting and learning from our Elders and listening to the leaders who have gone before me.”

Thomas is in the last year of her Doctorate of Social Science degree at Royal Roads. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science and a Master’s degree in Indigenous Governance, both from the University of Victoria.

Thomas’ recent negotiations have resulted in an $8 million land-back deal for Lyackson, in partnership with BC and to be shared with Cowichan Tribes.

[Drafted quote]
“My immediate focus is on advancing governance, lands, and resources, and the economic and cultural well-being of the Leey’qsun Mustimuhw (Lyackson People) in preparation for the re-establishment of our Village site on Vancouver Island. ”

The re-establishment of the ancestral Village site is a direct result of Thomas’s successful negotiation of the over $8 Million Land Back deal close to Skutz Falls, in partnership with the Province and to be shared with Cowichan Tribes.

“Launching our newly rebranded website is one component of our larger Action Plan, and we are thrilled with the team at Remarkable Communications who have worked with us on this.”

About Leey’qsun (Lyackson) First Nation
Leey’qsun (Lyackson) Mustimuhw is a Central Coast Salish Hul’q’umi’num community of over 200 members. Presently the Administration office based on Halalt reserve, in Chemainus, Vancouver Island. Leey’qsun (Lyackson) is working to restore Lyackson’s Sacred rights and responsibilities to Steward ancestral lands. In collaboration with BC, Canada, and historic Quw’utsun Nation member communities, Leey’qsun (Lyackson) is focused on the implementation of UNDRIP through Nation-Building work, and building a future rooted in abundance and community for membership. For more information, visit www.lyackson.bc.ca

For media inquiries, please contact:
Shana Thomas (Laxele’wuts’aat),
Hereditary Chief, Leey’qsun (Lyackson) First Nation
E: chiefthomas@lyackson.bc.ca
P: (250) 618-6905

BACKGROUNDER:

Shana Thomas (Laxele’wuts’aat) has worked alongside Grand Chief Pahalicktun for over 20 years, fi rst as an elected Councillor for Lyackson First Nation from 2002-14, then as a Negotiator from 2014-present. In addition to her many years serving her community directly, Thomas also has over 25 years of experience consulting for and negotiating on behalf of numerous First Nation-led organizations across the Province.

Thomas was elected by the Coast Salish Chiefs of Vancouver Island as the Coast Salish representative to the First Nations Health Council (2010-12) and, as such, was part of the negotiating team that transferred the Pacifi c Region Health Canada to the creation of the First Nations Health Authority.

Thomas was elected by the Chiefs of the First Nations Summit as Treaty Commissioner to the BC Treaty Commission (2009-11), where she facilitated tripartite treaty negotiations between First Nations, Canada, and BC.

Earlier in her career, Thomas worked for the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group (2001-07) as Communications Director, then Senior Negotiations Support. She worked with Chief Judith Sayers as a Negotiator for Hupacasath First Nation (2007-09). Thomas also has experience as a Sessional Instructor, teaching First Nations issues at Vancouver Island University, the University of Victoria, and Camosun College (2008-15).

Thomas’s Grandfather is the late hereditary Chief, Thee-o-letza, Clifford Thomas from Lyackson; her Grandmother is the late Joyce Moody from Squamish Nation; her great grandfather was George Moody, hereditary Chief, Squamish Nation, and her Great Grandmother was Mary Albany of Songhees First Nation. Thomas is a mother of two and grandmother of three.

Thomas’s role as hereditary Chief was passed on to her from my Uncle Pahalicktun under the traditional laws of the People (Snuw’uy’ulth). Lyackson’s governance structure includes a hereditary Chief and three elected Council members. The current Council members are Brena Robinson, Rachel Flowers, and Shayli Robinson.

LAND BACK BACKGROUNDER

Lyackson First Nation, Cowichan Tribes and the Province had reached a key reconciliation milestone that will enable the return of culturally signifi cant land in the Cowichan River valley to our two communities.

Chief Pahalicktun (Richard Thomas), Lyackson First Nation; Chief Cindy Daniels (Sulsulxumaat), Cowichan Tribes; Premier David Eby; and Murray Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, were joined by community members near Skutz Falls on May 11 2024 for a ceremony to sign an Incremental Treaty Agreement (ITA), signatories also included Laxele’wuts’aat, Shana Thomas Lyackson Negotiator and Dana Thorne, Cowichan Tribes A/Chief Administrative Officer.

About 150 people were there for the event, which involved songs and dances from the local Tzinquaw dancers as well as the presentation of gifts of blankets, paddles, art, and cedar boxes with carved feathers inside to the leaders of the three signing parties.

Under the agreement, B.C. will transfer a parcel of recently purchased private land to Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes. The 312-hectare land parcel is valued at approximately $8.55 million. It was a private forestry land parcel bought from Mosiac Forest Management.

Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes will seek to add the land to their respective reserves through the federal Addition to Reserve process. This will take place after the land transfer is completed and objectives of the inter-community memorandum of understanding have been achieved. Under that agreement, the Lyackson First Nation and Cowichan Tribes commit to hold the lands in partnership until a plan is in place to divide it into equal, separate parcels.