May 25, 2022: North Vancouver, BC – Today, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is pleased to announce the signing of a services agreement with the City of Vancouver. This agreement is an important step as the Squamish Nation moves forward with the development of the Sen̓áḵw reserve lands at the foot of the Burrard St. Bridge.
“Sen̓áḵw has been a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh village site for thousands of years. With the overwhelming support of our Squamish People, the Sen̓áḵw development will generate enormous wealth for our community and see the return of Squamish People to our village that past Canadian governments forcibly evicted us from.”
– Squamish Nation Spokesperson Sxwíxwtn, Wilson Williams
This is an important milestone for the project. The agreement ensures access to critical municipal infrastructure from the City of Vancouver for the development and focuses on the following areas:
- Connects the Sen̓áḵw development to City water and storm sewer services
- Includes significant upgrades and investments to pedestrian, cycling, transit and road improvements
The signing of this agreement demonstrates the continued collaboration between the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the City of Vancouver and underlines the City’s continued commitment to being a partner in reconciliation.
“As a City of Reconciliation, the Sen̓áḵw development is a crucial and ambitious step forward in making Vancouver a city for us all. It is an honour to help support the Squamish Nation’s sovereignty as well as help expand services for Indigenous Peoples including eldercare, education, language, and cultural supports. And on top of it all, Sen̓áḵw will deliver more than 6,000 homes to address our critical need for rental and below market housing. I couldn’t be more proud to support such an historic and visionary project – the largest First Nations economic development in Canadian history.”
– City of Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart
For more information, please contact media@squamish.net.
About Us
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (also known as the Squamish Nation) is a unity of the Squamish Peoples with an uplifting culture, rich history, and exciting future. The Nation is an innovative Indigenous government that uses its resources to provide, guide, and protect the Squamish territory and Squamish People. The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stélmexw (Squamish People) continue to reside in the area now described as the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. The largest proportion of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Members live in several urban reserve communities in the present-day cities of Vancouver, North and West Vancouver and the municipality of Squamish, B.C. Over 47 per cent of the more than 4,050 Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Members live on-reserve, and membership is determined by guidelines set out in the Squamish Nation Membership Code. The Nation has never ceded or surrendered title to its lands, rights to its resources or the power to make decisions within its territory.