Musqueam Indian Band map. View Regional Map

Musqueam Indian Band


Background

Negotiating Status
: Negotiating a comprehensive treaty settlement within the British Columbia Treaty Commission six-stage treaty process.

Negotiation Affiliation
: Negotiating independently with Canada and British Columbia. Not affiliated with a tribal council or treaty negotiation group.

Location
: Main community is on Musqueam Indian Reserve #2, in the Point Grey area of Vancouver. (Three reserves on 254.2 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 1,196 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence March 2008, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Negotiations

The Musqueam Indian Band entered the treaty process in December 1993.

In 1998, negotiators initialled a framework agreement that eventually went unsigned after the Musqueam community rejected ratification based on the issue that compensation was not mentioned as one of the topics for discussion in the agreement. The Parties did not meet again until late in 2002 to resume negotiations for a framework agreement. The negotiators successfully concluded a framework agreement that satisfied all Parties, and that included the topic of compensation. The agreement was initialled by negotiators in December 2003. Ministers for the federal and provincial governments and the chief of the Musqueam Indian Band officially signed the framework agreement in a special ceremony at the Musqueam Reserve in April 2005.

The Parties are currently in Stage 4 of the six-stage process.

Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement

On March 11, 2008, the provincial government and the Musqueam Indian Band signed a landmark Reconciliation, Settlement and Benefits Agreement to provide full and final settlement of outstanding litigation related to the 2003 sale of the University of British Columbia Golf Course lands; the relocation of the River Rock casino to Richmond's Bridgepoint lands; and remediation for environmental damage to the Celtic Lands in South Vancouver. The agreement was given Royal Assent by the B.C. Legislature on March 31, 2008, and came into effect on April 14, 2008.

The agreement includes a cash payment of $20.3 million and transfers the following lands:

  • University Golf Course lands (59 hectares).
  • Bridgepoint Casino lands (seven hectares).
  • Two parcels currently in Pacific Spirit Regional Park:
    • A 13.8 hectare parcel adjacent to the Musqueam reserve, known as Block K.
    • An 8.5 hectare parcel located beyond the western end of the University Golf Course, known as Block F, with zoning similar to that on the adjacent property.

Under the agreement, 7.3 hectares of the University Golf Course lands and 1.2 hectares of Block F will be established as parkland. It also ensures that the University golf course area remains a golf course until 2083.

Planned meetings

As dates are established for open public treaty negotiations meetings, they will be publicized through the local media and on the B.C. Treaty Commission website at Negotiations Calendar.