Snuneymuxw First Nation Geographic Location

Squamish First Nation

Background
Negotiations
Other Activities
Planned Meetings

Background

Negotiating status

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

Negotiating affiliation

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

Location

: Band members live in eight villages on reserves over an area stretching from the north shore of Burrard Inlet to the Squamish and Cheekeye areas at the head of Howe Sound, approximately 50 km north of Vancouver. (23 reserves on 2,115.6 hectares.)

Number of Band Members: 3,532 (Source: Registered Indian Population by Sex and Residence December 2006, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada)

Negotiations

The Squamish Nation entered the treaty process in December 1993, and is now in Stage 3 of the six-stage process, having negotiated but not finalized a framework agreement. The Squamish have been concentrating on non-treaty-related matters and the treaty table has not been meeting regularly since 1998.

Other Activities

The Squamish have been engaged in non-treaty activities since 1995, including commercial activities, settlement of cut-off claims, implementation of the Squamish Estuary Agreement, development of a land-use plan for their traditional territory, and in the Vancouver bid for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

In March 2001, the Squamish and the Lil'wat Nation signed a protocol agreement committing them to identifying issues of mutual concern within their traditional territories, exploring economic opportunities, and considering shared jurisdiction and co-management.
In November 2002, the Squamish and Lil’wat Nations with the Vancouver 2010 Bid Corporation and Province of British Columbia signed an Olympic Legacy Agreement. The Legacy Agreement provides benefits and legacies related to the Games for the Squamish and Lil’wat. This includes a land transfer of 300 acres (122 ha) of provincial Crown land to be held as fee-simple private property by the First Nations, economic development opportunities, training, and future involvement in the Olympic facilities within the Callaghan Valley/Whistler area.
In June 2003, British Columbia announced that they would contribute $3 million for a new cultural centre that will showcase Squamish and Lil'wat First Nations culture and diversity. The provincial funding comes from the economic development fund. Total funding was $7.7 million, including $4.7 from the Government of Canada through the regional partnership fund for the development of the cultural centre. The Squamish Lil'wat Cultural Centre will be located on 1.6 hectares of provincial Crown land opposite the Fairmont Chateau Whistler Hotel. The entire project will be approximately 25,000 square feet (2,300 square metres) for the main building and 6,000 square feet (550 square metres) for the eco-tour buildings. The cost of the project is estimated at $18 million.
In March 2004, the Province announced $400,000 in provincial funding to support a new First Nations Tourism Management Co-operative Diploma program at Capilano College. The accelerated tourism training program, a partnership between Capilano College, and the Squamish, Lil'wat (Mt. Currie) and Squamish First Nations, will deliver training, academic instruction, and co-operative education employment opportunities related to tourism, hospitality, business, communications, marketing and other managerial and entrepreneurial sectors.

Planned Meetings

As dates are established for open public meetings, they will be publicized through the local media and posted on the British Columbia Treaty Commission Website Negotiations Calendar.