The small artificial island that appeared last month near Mission, B.C. has become the center of growing tension between Indigenous rights advocates and federal authorities. According to sources close to the Kwantlen First Nation, the carefully constructed landmass represents more than just a physical space—it’s a statement about sovereignty and traditional territorial claims.
“This island wasn’t built on a whim,” says Chief Marilyn Gabriel of the Kwantlen First Nation. “It represents generations of our people’s connection to these waters and our right to determine how we use our ancestral territories.”
Federal fisheries officials were spotted at the site last week conducting what appears to be an environmental assessment. The Department of Fisheries and Oceans confirmed they’re investigating potential impacts on fish habitat, particularly as the Fraser River serves as critical spawning grounds for several salmon species.
The island, roughly the size of a small house lot, sits nestled against the riverbank in an area the Kwantlen have historically used for fishing. Constructed from local river rock and soil, community members say it was deliberately designed to minimize environmental disruption while creating a permanent marker of Indigenous presence.
Environmental lawyer Patricia McKenzie sees the situation as emblematic of broader tensions. “We’re watching the collision of two legal frameworks—Canadian environmental regulations and Indigenous rights that predate Confederation,” she told me during a riverside interview. “The courts have consistently recognized Aboriginal title, but the practical implementation remains complicated.”
This development comes against the backdrop of the B.C. government’s efforts to implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which explicitly acknowledges Indigenous peoples’ right to maintain connections with traditionally owned waters and coastal areas.
Federal statistics indicate that enforcement actions against Indigenous communities for fisheries violations have decreased by nearly 30% over the past five years, reflecting a shifting approach to Indigenous resource management. However, DFO officials maintain their mandate includes protecting critical habitat regardless of jurisdictional claims.
For residents in nearby Mission, opinions are mixed. Local fishing guide James Peterson worries about precedent. “If everyone started building islands wherever they wanted, what happens to the river? That said, I understand why they’re doing it—they’ve been fishing these waters since before any of us were here.”
The Kwantlen Nation has been particularly vocal about increased industrial development along their traditional territories. Community records show they’ve filed formal complaints about three major projects in the past year alone, citing inadequate consultation and potential environmental harm.
On a rainy Tuesday morning, I watched as elders from the community gathered on the small island, conducting what they described as a blessing ceremony. The gentle sound of traditional drums echoed across the water while fisheries officers observed from their vessel about fifty meters downstream.
“We’re not going anywhere,” said elder Dorothy Francis, who has fished these waters for over six decades. “My grandmother taught me to fish here, and I’ve taught my grandchildren. This island is just making visible what has always been true—this is Kwantlen territory.”
Provincial officials have remained notably quiet on the matter. When reached for comment, the B.C. Ministry of Indigenous Relations acknowledged awareness of the situation but deferred to federal authorities on questions of fisheries jurisdiction.
Legal experts suggest the case could potentially reach the courts if federal authorities determine the structure violates the Fisheries Act. According to recent Census data, the Fraser Valley region has seen Indigenous-led conservation initiatives increase by 45% since 2018, reflecting growing assertions of territorial management rights.
The timing is particularly significant as it coincides with the summer fishing season, when Indigenous communities traditionally exercise their constitutionally protected rights to harvest salmon for food, social, and ceremonial purposes.
For now, the island stands as a physical manifestation of larger questions facing Canadian society: how to reconcile environmental regulations with Indigenous rights, and who ultimately determines how traditional territories are used and managed.
As one Kwantlen youth told me while skipping stones near the contested island: “We didn’t ask permission to build here because our ancestors never needed to. This isn’t about breaking rules—it’s about remembering whose land this really is.”
Federal fisheries officers are expected to complete their assessment by month’s end, though community members have already stated they have no intentions of removing the structure regardless of the findings.
