The Halalt originate from the village of xeláltxw, which means ‘marked houses’ or ‘painted houses’, a reference to the fact that the houseposts in this village were decorated. According to information collected by Rozen (1985), this village was once located in the Cowichan Valley, at the spot where the Silver Bridge currently crosses the Cowichan River, at the south-eastern edge of the city of Duncan. According to Cowichan oral history, the forefathers of both the Cowichan and Chemainus people (Siyóletse and St’éts’en respectively) originated from this village.

The residents of this village later relocated to a village at the north end of Willy Island, the largest of the Shoal Islands located just off the mouth of the Chemainus River, perhaps in the early part of the 19th Century. When they moved, they took the village name with them. Rozen (1985) reports that, historically, there were at least five or six houses in the village in Willy Island. Although the entire island was designated an Indian Reserve (Halalt Island No. 1), the village was abandoned in the 1920s and the residents moved to the Westholme reserve on the lower Chemainus River (Halalt No. 2).

Header Image is © to Kacey Gladstone

What’s Happening

• Chief Thomas Speaks Up
• Watershed Restoration Plan
  For over two decades Halalt Leadership has been raising the issues the watershed is facing and highlighting the need for a Watershed Restoration Plan. The impacts felt by the community in the last 5 years are a stark reminder that BIG ACTION is needed. The Chemainus Watershed Initiative includes a collaborative table with representatives from… Read more: Watershed Restoration Plan
• Tl’uqtinus Judgment Delivery Plan 2025
• Day School Class Action Update
  Where to find additional info on the Day school Class Action Case
• Day School Class Action Info
  day_school_class_action

Notice of Proposed Local Revenue Laws and Invitation to Make Representations

Please see document below for details:

Halalt First Nation’s Chief and Council would like to ensure that as your elected officials, that we are committed to moving forward on issues, such as, housing, social, economic, treaty, fisheries and forestry with a focus of bringing continued capacity and stability for both our on and off reserve band membership, and for the community members as a whole.

We continue to recognize the need to be a strong government and therefor remain committed to continually work with local governments, industry, and other sources ensuring that Halalt First Nation’s wants, needs and desires are not marginalized in the overall scheme of things when it comes to the sharing of wealth and abundance of natural resources in our direct traditional territory.

Address: 7973 Chemainus Road, Chemainus, BC V0R 1K5
Phone: (250) 246-4736
Fax: (250)246-2330
To get in touch via email, please fill out the form below.

Office Hours:

8:00 am-4:00 pm Monday-Friday
(closed from 12 pm to 1 pm for lunch)