Nanoose First Nation

What Nanoose First Nation does

Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation is a Coast Salish indigenous government serving 280+ members on a 63-hectare reserve at Nanoose Bay on southeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia. The Nation operates under the Indian Act of Canada and is governed by an elected Chief and Council led by Chief Brent Edwards, with current engagement in Stage 5 of the BC Treaty Process through the Te'mexw Treaty Association (Agreement-in-Principle signed April 9, 2015). The organization is a member of both the Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council and the Coast Salish Employment Training Society.

The Nation delivers a broad suite of community services to its members at no direct cost, organized across two main categories. Community services include an Indigenous-led Health Centre (co-funded by FNHA and Island Health) offering primary care, mental health, traditional healing, maternal and child health, and elder supports; a licensed Uy'Sqwalawun Childcare Centre serving infants through age 12; the Thi K'wasun Youth Group and summer camp; a monthly Elder's Program; Indian Registration administration; RCMP and emergency services coordination; and ceremonial blessing and prayer services. Administrative departments cover Education (PSSSP, UCEP, K-12 support), Employment Training (via CSETS), Fisheries, Housing and Maintenance, Land Management (operating under a custom Land Code ratified with 90% member approval), Social Assistance, Te'mexw Treaty, Waste Management (via Regional District of Nanaimo curbside collection), and a Class C Waste Water Treatment Facility with three-stage treatment plus potable water treatment meeting BC Small System Water Treatment Standards.

The business model is government-funded rather than commercial: operating budgets flow from Indigenous Services Canada for band administration and social assistance, from FNHA and Island Health for health services, from CMHC for housing renovations and Section 95 rental housing, and from Service Canada via CSETS for employment training, supplemented by rental income from band-owned housing units. The go-to-market is direct-to-member through the band office, Health Centre, childcare facility, an official website (snawnawas.org), a Facebook health centre group, community newsletters, calendars, and billboards. There are 11 band staff and no disclosed revenue figures; the Nation is not a commercial enterprise and does not seek profit, but rather operates as a self-governing indigenous public administration pursuing eventual transition from the Indian Act through treaty ratification.

Name

Nanoose First Nation

Legal name

Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation

Website

https://snawnawas.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1876

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Government Community Services

NAICS

American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Governments (921150), Individual and Family Services (6241), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Water Supply (4941), Sanitary Services (4950)

akta.pro primary industry

Minority, Indigenous & Disability Rights (BPADAGAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Tribal/Indigenous Public Health Authorities (HLAJAAAD), Indigenous/Tribal Education Authorities & Boards (EDADABAM), Water Resources, WASH & Integrated Water Management (BPADALAH)

Keywords

• Indigenous community services
• First nation governance
• Primary healthcare services
• Licensed childcare services
• Social assistance programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Lantzville

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Federal Government Funding: Primary funding from Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) for band administration, programs, and services on reserve
2. First Nations Health Authority & Island Health: Health services funded through FNHA and Island Health for community health centre operations
3. Rental Housing Income: Revenue from band-owned rental units and Section 95 social housing

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation is an indigenous government delivering community services to its 280+ members across health, childcare, education, youth, Elders, housing, fisheries, social assistance, land management, treaty governance, waste management, and waste-water treatment. Services are funded by Indigenous Services Canada, FNHA, Island Health, and CMHC, and are delivered free at the point of access to band members. The Nation also generates rental income from band-owned housing units.

Product overview

Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose) First Nation is a Coast Salish government community offering a comprehensive suite of community services spanning health and wellness, early childhood education, youth programs, elder support, and administrative services. The organization operates as a collection of interconnected community programs rather than a unified technology product. Core services include the Health Centre providing Indigenous-led primary care and traditional healing; Uy’sqwalawun Childcare Centre offering licensed early childhood education; Thi K'wasun Youth Group for cultural youth programming; and administrative departments covering Education, Employment Training, Fisheries, Housing, Land Management, Social Assistance, Te'mexw Treaty, Waste Management, and Waste Water Treatment. The Health Centre and Elder's Program share the 700 Capilano Rd facility, while Uy’sqwalawun Daycare operates at 702 Capilano Rd, demonstrating physical co-location of related services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Snaw-naw-as Health Centre Indigenous-led primary health care facility providing integrated community care including primary health care, mental health and wellness counselling, traditional healing (acupuncture, reflexology), home and community care, maternal and child health, and elder supports for Snaw-naw-as Nation members.
• Uy'sqwalawun Childcare Centre Licensed childcare centre providing infant (0-18 months) to school age (12 years) care, combining holistic Early Childhood Education with culturally enriched activities including Hul'q'umi'num' language-based play, art, music, and nature engagement for children of band members.
• Thi K'wasun Youth Group Youth empowerment program offering cultural exploration, Indigenous arts, language-based practices, summer Youth Camp, and community connection activities for young Snaw-naw-as Nation members.
• Elder's Program Monthly Elders Luncheon and social gatherings at the Health Centre honoring Coast Salish traditions and providing community connection for senior Snaw-naw-as Nation members.
• Indian Registration Indian Registration Administrator services maintaining the Indian Register, assisting with status card applications, and supporting birth and death registrations for band members.
• RCMP & Emergency Services Coordination Emergency services coordination providing 911 police response, non-emergency RCMP contact, and community safety coordination for the reserve community.
• Education Department Post-Secondary Student Support Program (PSSSP), University and College Entrance Preparation Program (UCEP), and K-12 student support including school registration guidance and bus registration coordination for band members.
• Employment Training (CSETS) Employment and training services through Coast Salish Employment Training Society providing resume building, mock interviews, First Aid/Food Safe certifications, Adult Basic Education (ABE) program, and youth employment programs for band members.
• Fisheries Department Commercial fisheries management, conservation and stewardship, community engagement, and partnerships supporting sustainable harvest practices, licensing, and habitat protection for the Nation.
• Housing & Maintenance Housing services providing safe, affordable, energy efficient housing options, maintenance requests, minor repairs, renovations, and rental unit allocations for band members, including Section 95 social housing.
• Land Management Land administration including Land Registry, Title advisory, Snaw-naw-as Land Code management, administration of Nation Tax Laws in accordance with FNTC Standards, and guidance on boundary disputes and estate planning.
• Social Assistance Income assistance program for adults meeting ISC Social Development Policy criteria, including a five-week job search requirement and cooperation with Employment Training for eligible band members.
• Te'mexw Treaty Constitution development and treaty negotiation through Te'mexw Treaty Association, currently in Stage 5 of the BC Treaty Process, focused on self-determination and governance transition for the Nation.
• Waste Management Environmental waste management in partnership with Regional District of Nanaimo, including curbside collection for organics, recycling, and garbage, with collection scheduling through the RDN portal for reserve residents.
• Waste Water Treatment Class C (Level 2) Waste Water Facility providing three-stage treatment (Preliminary, Primary, Secondary) and potable water treatment meeting Small System Water Treatment Standards and BC Municipal Waste Water Regulation for reserve residents.

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Coast Salish Employment Training Society (CSETS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnaw-naw-as is a member nation of CSETS which receives funding through Service Canada. CSETS provides employment readiness support including resume building, mock interviews, First Aid and Food Safe training, and Adult Basic Education programs in partnership with Vancouver Island University.
• Vancouver Island University (VIU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with VIU enables Adult Basic Education program delivered in the community from September to April at Youth Building, adapted to individual participant needs.
• Four Seasons ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for youth programming including Youth Soccer Camps, Girls Power groups, Honouring of Grandmothers/Grandfathers groups, Xu'Athun Tsatsup Parenting Group, and Cultural Mentor support for Thi K'wasun Youth Group.
• Loaves and Fishes (Foodbank)minorOthersFood support for summer Youth Camp, providing light breakfasts and lunches prepared by youth leaders.
• School District 68minorOthersSupport for summer Youth Camp programs and food security initiatives.
• Regional District of NanaimomajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for curbside waste collection program including organics, recycling, and garbage. Residents access collection schedules through RDN Curbside Collection Online Portal. RDN provides collection services for the community.
• Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)coreOthersFederal government department responsible for funding band administration, Indian Registration, social assistance programs, and various on-reserve services.
• First Nations Health Authority (FNHA)coreOthersFNHA funds the Snaw-naw-as Health Centre providing Indigenous-led primary care, mental health services, traditional healing, and community health programs.
• Island HealthcoreOthersRegional health authority co-funding Health Centre operations alongside FNHA.
• Naut'sa mawt Tribal CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative body providing advisory resources and guidelines for member Nations including Housing Toolkit 2.0. Guides community planning, economic development, governance, and infrastructure.
• Te'mexw Treaty AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerComprising five Coast Salish Nations (Beecher Bay, Malahat, Snaw-naw-as, Songhees, T'Sou-ke) negotiating modern treaties under BC Treaty Process. Currently in Stage 5 finalizing treaties. Agreement-in-Principle signed April 9, 2015.
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)majorOthersCMHC provides funding for on-reserve renovations (emergency repairs, senior adaptations, health/safety improvements), Shelter Enhancement Program, and Section 95 non-profit rental housing on reserve.
• First Nation Emergency Services Society (FNESS)minorOthersProvides emergency management resources and guidelines for First Nations communities.
• Te'mexw Treaty AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration with government, industry, and other First Nations to uphold rights and ensure Nation's voice in fisheries management decision-making.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Tsartlip First Nation: A Coast Salish Nation in the Saanich area operating similar band administration, education, and health programs funded by ISC and FNHA — comparable structure even though geographically further south on the Island.
• Cowichan Tribes: A large Coast Salish First Nation on Vancouver Island offering a comparable suite of community services (health, education, housing, fisheries) but at materially greater scale, serving as a benchmark for service breadth on the Island.

Direct peers

• T'Sou-ke First Nation: A Coast Salish Nation and Te'mexw Treaty Association partner of Snaw-naw-as, operating under the same BC Treaty Process framework with comparable member-funded services, land management, and self-governance mandate.
• Songhees First Nation: A Coast Salish First Nation and fellow member of the Te'mexw Treaty Association alongside Snaw-naw-as, engaged in the same Stage 5 BC Treaty Process and delivering a comparable suite of band administration, health, housing, and community services on southern Vancouver Island.
• Beecher Bay First Nation: A Coast Salish Nation and Te'mexw Treaty Association member co-negotiating a modern treaty; operates an analogous mix of band administration, health, housing, and fisheries programs funded through the same federal-provincial Indigenous framework.
• Malahat Nation: A Coast Salish First Nation and fellow Te'mexw Treaty Association member in Stage 5, with a small on-reserve population and similar reliance on ISC, FNHA, and CMHC funding streams for community services.

Others

• Naut'sa mawt Tribal Council: The advisory tribal council of which Snaw-naw-as is a member, providing shared governance, planning, and infrastructure resources (including a Housing Toolkit 2.0) — a structural peer for member Nations operating in the same funding and governance framework.

Regional players

• Snuneymuxw First Nation: A neighbouring Coast Salish First Nation located in the greater Nanaimo area, sharing cultural-linguistic ties (Hul'q'umi'num'/Halkomelem) and delivering a comparable community-services portfolio, but operating as a larger, more urbanized reserve.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/snawnawashealth
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nanoose-first-nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Nanoose First Nation