Image: MLA Heather Maahs / Chilliwack North MLA Heaather Maahs during a recent event.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Lobbying the federal government

Chilliwack MLA urges feds to review protocols around Addition to Reserve lands process

Dec 2, 2025 | 10:39 AM

CHILLIWACK — Chilliwack North MLA Heather Maahs is asking the federal government to ensure prime agricultural land in Chilliwack and Abbotsford is being protected amid concerns from constituents around the process for Addition to Reserve lands.

According to the text of a letter dated Nov. 21, 2025, Maahs says she supports the ability of First Nations bands in her riding to develop independent economic strength and self-determination.

“At the same time, my constituency of Chilliwack North, which includes part of Abbotsford as well, is some of the finest agriculture land in British Columbia and Canada,” Maahs wrote in her letter to Rebecca Alty, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada. “There are growing concerns in my constituency regarding the process for the Addition toReserve (ATR) lands.”

Maahs wants to ensure that local stakeholders are consulted when it comes to prime ag land.

“I am asking that you ensure there are protocols in place which will ensure the protection of these prime agricultural lands, apply collaborative planning processes and consultation with local stakeholders, and explore creative solutions, such as land swaps, to protect essential agricultural lands,” she wrote. “Valuing the land and protecting it is important to us all and is essential for our future health and thriving as a province and as a country. Thank you for your care and attention to this important matter.”

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One recent transaction in Chilliwack involved an expedited Addition to Reserve lands process. In January 2025, a Chilliwack First Nation announced that it had acquired and added 50 acres of land within its traditional territory to its reserve in Chilliwack. Ch’iyáqtel (Tzeachten First Nation) said the newly acquired lands, located within Ch’iyáqtel’s traditional territory and adjacent to existing reserve lands, represented a significant step in reclaiming and stewarding ancestral lands.

“This land is critical to our ability to plan for future generations,” said Ch’iyáqtel Chief Derek Epp. “It marks a significant milestone in reclaiming traditional territory and preparing for the future of Ch’iyáqtel people.”

Chief Epp said colonization and the historical appropriation of traditional lands resulted in most of Ch’iyáqtel’s land being privately owned by individual community members rather than the First Nation itself.

“This limits our ability to address community-wide needs. Reacquiring this land is a step toward correcting these injustices, securing sustainable growth, and planning for essential infrastructure, housing, and public spaces while honoring our history and traditions,” Chief Epp said.

The First Nation said it worked closely with the federal government to expedite the Additions to Reserve process, ensuring the land could formally become part of Ch’iyáqtel’s reserve. The collaboration underscored the importance of addressing critical issues such as attainable and affordable housing, infrastructure development, community safety, and sustainable growth, the band said.

Moving forward, Ch’iyáqtel said it would embark on a comprehensive planning process that would engage both its members and the City of Chilliwack to create a master plan for the site.