The Squamish Chief editorial team has selected 10 top themes, events and issues for the year in our coverage. This story is one in a series of those.
A landmark development was approved by the Squamish Nation in December, establishing it as a major force for addressing the Lower Mainland’s housing crisis. Nation members voted in favour of entering into a 50-50 partnership with Westbank Projects Corp. to build 11 towers on reserve land in Vancouver. The 6,000 units will be built at the south end of the Burrar Bridge near False Creek. It’s expected that 70% to 90% of the units for this project, dubbed Senakw, will be rental. Construction is expected to start in 2021.
Earlier this year, on a separate matter, a land transfer from the province to the Squamish Nation turned into a widespread debate about how much of a say recreationalists should have in Indigenous land claim issues.
Several prominent climbers voiced their concerns that a climbing area called Petrified Wall by Murrin Park could be lost to recreationalists, as it is part of a land transfer between the province and the Nation.
A number of well-known locals said they were dismayed that climbers were not given a voice on the matter.
“I’m absolutely astounded that climbers and climbing advocacy groups were not consulted before this took place,” wrote Marc Bourdon, an author of several popular Squamish climbing guidebooks.
There was backlash.
Many thought it was in poor taste for some in a predominantly white recreationalist community to voice frustration over not being consulted about the transfer.
In social media discussions, a common view was that the Indigenous people who have a historical claim over the land were not consulted when the parcel became the province’s property, nor were they consulted when climbers started creating routes in the area.
In an interview with The Chief, Nation spokesperson Khelsilem, said the deal allowed the Squamish Nation to receive property that has been owed for quite some time.
“The history of land confiscation from the Squamish Nation going back to Confederation has always been one where our people and our leaders, going back to the founding of the nation, have articulated that we never surrendered our lands. It’s all ours,” he said.
Following the reactions, the Squamish Access Society wrote a public letter that said they support the return of land to the Squamish Nation.
“Our understanding is that the land transfers are a small piece of a country-wide reconciliation effort,” read the letter by vice-chair Brian Moorhead.
The land transfer is part of a benefit deal related to the Woodfibre LNG project. In exchange for the Nation’s support, the province promised a package that included millions of dollars in cash, as well as land transfers and leases, among other things.
The document was signed off in March, but started to get notice from Squamish residents after the Squamish Access Society noted land in the Murrin Park area, known as the Watts Point parcel, was going to be subject to the transfer.
