S’olh Temexw, Abbotsford BC, January 7, 2026 – Semá:th (Sumas First Nation) has received funding from the Heritage Legacy Fund, via The Dogwood Heritage Society of BC, for the identification and cataloguing of Sumas First Nation heritage resources.
Through the first half of 2026, Sumas First Nation will be taking on a special heritage recording and cataloguing project, whereby members of Sumas First Nation will have the opportunity to submit historic resources (i.e., maps, documents, photographs, or other media) for recording and preservation. The Sumas community will be consulted regarding the people, places, and events connected to the submitted resources, and will retain full authority over whether this information remains private or is shared publicly.
Extensive engagement with the Sumas First Nation community is required to complete this work; community input on resource inclusion, data collection, and exhibiting of these resources will be necessary to appropriately and respectfully catalogue the rich history and legacy of the Semá:th. All submitted materials will remain the property of those who submit them for cataloguing.
More details about the exact timeline and scope of work will be available soon, pending approvals from community members on information sharing and delivery. Sumas First Nation is committed to uplifting and representing the rich history and legacy of the Nation, including preserving heritage resources and remaining aligned with the First Nations Principles of OCAP® (Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession).
An e-exhibit of approved materials will be available for public viewing later in 2026, per funding agreement stipulations. This project was funded in part by Heritage BC through the Heritage Legacy Fund.
About Sumas First Nation
The Semá:th people are known as the fierce wolf people and are a part of the larger Stό:lō Nation. We are located in Abbotsford, BC, where we have been since time immemorial, and we are located where previously the Semá:th Lake and waterways were. These aquatic habitats formed an integral part of our community and our traditional way of life. Today, Semá:th has approximately 400 members, and we are continually growing.
To speak with a representative from Semá:th First Nation, please contact:
Semá:th (Sumas) First Nation
Media & Communications
Chantel Homme
Communications Officer
media@sumasfirstnation.com
communications@sumasfirstnation.com
+1 (604) 835-3380
Download full press release:
Keeping Our History Alive Press Release: January 7 2026
