Victoria and Esquimalt

We invite you to experience the beauty of our ancestral lands here at Salish Seaside RV Resort & Marina. As an Indigenous-owned retreat, we take great pride in sharing our heritage and the rich cultural tapestry of the Lekwungen-speaking peoples.

Our resort sits on the traditional territories of the Esquimalt Nation, whose ancestors have lived in this region for thousands of years. This sacred land, surrounded by Esquimalt Harbour, continues to provide sustenance, inspiration, and a deep connection to the past. It’s a place where we honor the stories of our ancestors and the enduring strength of our community.

Our founders are dedicated to ensuring that the traditions of our people live on, while offering a welcoming space where visitors can connect with nature, our shared history, and the spirit of this land. Every corner of Salish Seaside is infused with a sense of community, family, and respect for the land and waters that sustain us.

The name Salish Seaside reflects our deep ties with the land, the water, and the coast. This is more than just a place to stay—it's an opportunity to embrace the tranquility and beauty of the Salish Sea. Whether you’re strolling along the shores of Esquimalt Harbour or enjoying the calm of the marina, you’ll feel the serenity that comes from being surrounded by the stunning landscapes of the region.

We are honored to share this special place with you. Welcome to our home.

Salish Seaside Opening Ceremony in 2018

First settlers on the land

Long before Captain James Cook became the first non-indigenous man to set foot on Vancouver Island in 1778, Victoria's rugged yet pristine wilderness had been home to First Nations people.
Many aboriginal families lived on Southern Vancouver Island, each referring to themselves by distinct family group names. These peoples could be separated into three groups that spoke different dialects of the North Straits Salish or Lekwungaynung language and became known as the Songhees, the Saanich and the Sooke First Nations peoples. Each had their permanent winter villages in the area.
Traditional territories included:
- Teechamitsa (the western boundary; its most southern coastal points were at Albert Head/Parry Bay (now Metchosin) and about ten miles inland “to the range of mountains on the Sanitch arm.”
- Kosapsum (Esquimalt)
- Whyuwmilth (which extended north from the mouth of Millstream, in the Esquimalt Harbour, to the mountains near Goldstream).
- Swengwhung (roughly the James Bay neighbourhood of what is now Victoria).
- Chlicowitch (roughly the Fairfield neighbourhood of what is now Victoria).
- Cheko’nein (eastern territory included Point Gonzales and Mount Douglas).
Hudson's Bay Company and Fort Victoria

In 1843, James Douglas chose Victoria (then known as Camosack), as a Hudson Bay Company trading post. The post was eventually renamed Fort Victoria, in honour of Queen Victoria. Between 1850 and 1854, Governor James Douglas negotiated fourteen treaties with Coast Salish peoples on Vancouver Island. The Lekwungen were then relocated to reserves, one of which was overlooking Victoria's Inner Harbour. Reserve land was later moved west to Esquimalt.
Esquimalt Today

Today, the Esquimalt Nation is a small nation with approximately 150 members living on reserve and another 100 living off reserve. Off reserve members live in Victoria, in other parts of Vancouver Island and BC, Alberta, and in a number of communities in Washington State.