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Squamish Nation signs MOU service deal with Vancouver for 11-tower Senakw development
With the traditional, unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) as a backdrop, the First Nation signed a memorandum of understanding with the City of Vancouver for a service agreement, intended to provide utilities to a planned 6,000-unit housing development on reserve land near Burrard Street Bridge.
At a press event on Wednesday (May 25), Squamish council chairperson Khelsilem and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart penned the deal, which will sit in escrow until details are finalized. The agreement, when completed, should detail how services like electricity, water and sewage will connect to the Sen̓áḵw development.
It also includes significant upgrades to pedestrian, cycling, transit and road improvements in the area, many of which will blend into the surrounding city land.
At Wednesday's event, Nation spokesperson Syexwáliya, Ann Whonnock reminded the audience that the traditional name of the region is X̱ats'alanexw, the name of a Squamish chief. Before settlers came, the area had been home to the Squamish people for thousands of years, sharing the territory with xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) and Səlílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) peoples.
And as the parcel in question is reserve land, the development doesn't have to conform to typical city rules, like a formal public consultation process.
"The truth is that because it's an on-reserve development, there isn't a lot of required engagement pieces," Khelsilem said. "But I think what this means is that there's actually a lot of opportunity for the Nation to be innovative and take different approaches."