Learn more about next steps

Specific Claims

The Esk’etemc has been working with the legal team of Stan H Ashcroft of Ashcroft & Company, Barristers and Solicitors. The Specific Claim for Tsqwet (Wycott Flats) Water Rights Alienation has been in negotiations since 2003. After negotiations, research and assessments, the government has made a compensation offer to Esk’etemc. which Esk'etemc has accepted after a vote by the Esk'etemc Membership.

A snapshot of Tsqewt Water Rights

In 1881, the IR # 6, Tsqewt  was laid out, consisting of approximately 1,100 acres on a series of benches above the Fraser River. Water rights to all the water from Harpers Lake (Vert Lake) were promised to the Esk’etemc to irrigate the land. An irrigation ditch was surveyed. The commissioners said the Esk’etemc needed irrigated land to grow crops. Tsqewt was needed to grow crops and hay as they had less than 100 acres of land that could be cultivated

By the 1890s, The Esk'etemc started to work on the irrigation ditch from Vert Lake to Tsqewt. They spent two years digging the ditch by hand, using picks and shovels. While digging the irrigation ditch spanning approximately 5.5 kilometers in length, Canada told the Esk'etemc to stop the work, just 1 kilometer from their goal. In 1925, the Water Record #142A was abandoned by Canada, water rights were given to settler parties, and the irrigation ditch has been laying dormant ever since. 

More information and engagement sessions are being planned.

Now that that vote has concluded and passed, the Specific Claims team will be setting up engagement sessions in community and online to gather feedback and information from Esk’etemc Members. These sessions will happen in Fall 2024.

The vote took place.

The members of the Esk’etemc voted to accept the compensation offer. Next steps are for Chief and Council, with input from Esk’etemc members, to determine next steps.