About Skowkale First Nation

The community known as Skowkale began as Sq'ewqeyl, altered by the Europeans to be spelled Skulkayn and later Skowkale. In the Halq'emeylem language, Sq'ewqeyl literally means 'going around a turn' but is associated with 'at a bend in the Chilliwack River'.

Skowkale First Nation

A Timeline Excerpt from the Sto:lo Atlas

  • 1882: The Indian Agent states that, in his opinion, the Sq'ewqeyl and Yawkweakwioose reserve are "the best in my agency."

  • 1884: A 14 year old Sto:lo boy named Louie Sam is lynched by a mob of American vigilantes on the Canadian side of the border. Several hundred angry Sto:lo men gather in Chilliwack, on Sq'ewqeyl, and make plans to retaliate.

  • 1886: Methodist missionary Charles M. Tate opens an Indian school at his home in Chilliwack called the 'Coqualeetza Mission Home'. It was not located on the contemporary Coqualeetza complex, but on Knight Road near Skowkale. Note: some of the students buried in the cemetery at Coqualeetza were moved to Skowkale.

  • 1896: Chief Billy of Skowkale.... are referred to as examples of excellent farmers.

  • 1896: Bill Uslick, from Skowkale, is the first Aboriginal to be arrested and convicted under the anti-potlach law.

  • 1969-1969: Skowkale Band members open buildings on the Coqualeetza site and begin maintaining the buildings.

  • 1978: Skowkale Hatchery is built

  • 1981: Skowkale Hatchery begins operations under volunteers

Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada lists two reserves for Sq'ewqeyl - I.R.#10 & I.R.11. Today, Sq'ewqeyl totals about 68.4 hectares and shares an additional 64.7 hectares of the Grass Reserve lands with eight (8) neighboring communities within Chilliwack. It also shares 10.3 hectares of Peqwxe:yles reserve lands in Mission and 23.5 hectares of the Coqualeetza lands with 20 bands in the Sto:lo Nation.