Our Elders have always told us that from the beginning of time we have always been here, occupying our territory. This is our declaration:
We, the people of the Stó:lō Tribes, openly and publicly declare and affirm to the people and governments of Canada and British Columbia:
That the people of the Stó:lō Tribes have held and still hold Aboriginal title and Aboriginal rights to all land and resources within our territory.
That the people of the Stó:lō Tribes have never reached any agreement or treaty with the governments of Canada and British Columbia concerning the occupation, settlement, sovereignty or jurisdiction over our land.
We, the people of the Stó:lō Tribes, declare and affirm our inalienable right of Aboriginal title and Aboriginal rights to the land, the mountains, the minerals, the trees, the lakes, the rivers, the streams, the sea, the air, and the other resources of our land. We declare that our Aboriginal title and Aboriginal rights have existed from time immemorial, exists at the present and shall for all future time.
We, the people of the Stó:lō Tribes, declare that we shall do all in our power to see that the governments of Canada and British Columbia recognize in law and in practice our Aboriginal title and rights.
