Scia'new First Nation

Beecher Bay
Band No. 640
Klallam: SC’IȺNEW

Map of Beecher Bay First Nation tribal territory
People	Coast Salish
Treaty	Douglas Treaties
Headquarters	Sooke
Province	British Columbia
Land
Main reserve	Becher Bay 1
Other reserve(s)	List Becher Bay 2 Fraser Island 6 Lamb Island 5 Long Neck Island 9 Twin Island 10 Village Island 7 Whale Island 8
Land area	307.7 km2
Population (2024)
On reserve	103
On other land	12
Off reserve	159
Total population	274
Government
Chief	Russ Chipps
Council	Traci Pateman Sheeba Sawyer
Tribal Council
Te'mexw Treaty Association
Website
scianew.com

The Sc'ianew First Nation or Beecher Bay First Nation is a First Nations group, governed by a band governmental body of the same name. They are a party involved in the Douglas Treaties and are negotiating a modern treaty as a member of the Te'mexw Treaty Association along with the Malahat, Nanoose, Songhees, and T'Souke Nations. The Sc'ianew First Nation number 261 (as of March 2020).

Sc'ianew lands are located on southern Vancouver Island in southwestern British Columbia, Canada and include Becher Bay, Fraser Island, Lamb Island, Long-neck Island, Twin Island, Village Island, and Whale Island.

Languages

The name "Sc'ianew" (pronounced CHEA-nuh in English) comes from the Klallam word for Becher Bay, "xʷčiyánəxʷ." It means "the place of the big fish."

The group recognizes four ancestral languages though not all are currently spoken. Historically, the predominant language was Hul’q’umi’num’, the downriver dialect of the Halkomelem Language.