Cheam First Nation Acquires Fraser River Lodge

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 19, 2024

Cheam First Nation Purchases Fraser River Lodge

Cheam / Pelólxw Territory (Rosedale, B.C. CANADA) – Cheam First Nation has finalized the purchase of the Fraser River Lodge, a world-class tourism lodge and successful business which is located near the Cheam First Nation reserve lands, close to Agassiz BC. This new property is also just 1 mile upriver from our Cheam Fishing Village and Campground.

This recent $18.2m acquisition of the Fraser River Lodge is an example of Cheam First Nations taking steps to rebuild their community and increase the much-needed land base for their future. Cheam is taking matters into their own hands to create a better world for their people. They see a sustainable, prosperous future in eco-cultural tourism, eco-system-based agriculture, sustainable land development, and building world-class holistic health systems for their people and all neighbors in the region.

Cheam has also recently purchased two parcels of farmland on the north side of the Fraser River near their reserve lands. These lands combined with the agricultural lands Cheam already has on their reserve lands are creating a base for an ecosystem-based farming initiative that Cheam started this year.

These acquisitions have been done without any support from the provincial or federal government, or outside funding.  Cheam  has used their own source revenues and worked with their banking partners to secure the necessary funds to do this momentous work.

“Our people, our land and our culture are the most important assets in our world. Many of our elders and our people have been doing work to heal from intergenerational traumas, and to rebuild themselves into healthy strong members of our community. We have more work to do in this regard but it’s happening. Our land and environment have also faced traumas from colonialism and the over-harvesting of many resources. We want to find ways to protect our land and environment and to help it heal so that future generations of our people, all British Columbians and Canadians can have a sustainable future in this beautiful land. We see tourism and the other initiatives that we are undertaking as a way to facilitate this.”

“The negotiation to acquire the Fraser Lodge was done between Cheam and our longstanding neighbor, the previous owner, with the utmost integrity and we are forever grateful to him and his family for building this amazing business and working with us to transition the land and business into our hands to help support our people’s future. This is what true reconciliation looks like, people working together.” Cheam Chief Darwin Douglas stated.

Cheam is also working diligently on another eco-cultural tourism project within their territory. They continue to wait for the B.C.  government to  provide  clarity regarding the approval of  the Cascade Skyline sightseeing gondola,  which is a $ 70 million project set to be a major tourism attraction in the  eastern Fraser Valley. As co-owners, Cheam and the Pelolxw Tribe have asked for the province’s cooperation in approving this long delayed project ASAP.