Stó:lõ Nation [Douglas reserves]

This claim is brought by 14 bands within the Stó:lt Nation, the Aitchelitz, Kwantlen, Kwaw-Kwaw-Apilt, Lakahahmen, Matsqui, Scowlitz, Skowkale, Skwah, Skway, Soowahlie, Squiala, Sumas, Tzeachten and Yakweakwioose Bands. The claim alleges that in 1864, James Douglas, Governor of the Colony of British Columbia, established reserves for the various bands of the Stó:lõ Nation, reserves that were subsequently unlawfully reduced, and that when British Columbia entered Confederation in 1871, Canada inherited the duty to rectify this situation. The claim was submitted to Canada in 1988 and rejected in 1997 and again in 1999, after a supplementary submission had been made.

In July 2000, the Stó:lõ Nation made an initial request for an inquiry, which was confirmed a year later. Scheduling of the first planning conference was postponed pending clarification of the conditions and nature of the parties’ participation in the inquiry. Subsequent conference calls did not resolve these issues and, in September 2003, the Stó:lõ Nation requested that the inquiry be placed in abeyance.