The federal government has transferred nearly 200 acres of former Department of National Defence land to the Snuneymuxw First Nation near Nanaimo.
The land, which is made up of several parcels, totals 194.7 acres (78.8 hectares) and is being added to the nation’s reserve lands through the federal government’s “addition to reserve” process.
The property is located in the Mount Benson (Snuneymuxw’s te’tuxwtun) area, and the nation is looking at using the land to build housing, commercial spaces, enhanced infrastructure and “other economic development opportunities,” according to a joint release from the Snuneymuxw First Nation and Ministry of Crown-Indigenous Relations on Thursday.
“Snuneymuxw First Nation’s reserve land base is the lowest per capita reserve land base in B.C.,” reads the joint statement.
“Expanding Snuneymuxw reserved lands strengthens Snuneymuxw’s role within the region and is a step toward honouring the nations’ inherent responsibilities within the territory.”
Snuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse says the land transfer reaffirms the nation’s stance that its ancestors “never surrendered our land.”
“These te’tuxwtun lands have always been Snuneymuxw. Our sacred connection can never be broken,” he said in a statement. “Nearly two centuries of big work and perseverance have led us to this moment.”
“On behalf of our nation, I thank Minister Alty and her team for their commitment and dedication,” he added.
Wyse says the nation and Ottawa are walking along a “path of reconciliation” and that the nation will “continue to bring forward economic results with Minister Alty and all other willing partners.”
The land transfer comes after the Canadian government and nation signed the “Snuneymuxw First Nation’s Teytexen Village Specific Claim settlement agreement” earlier this year, which saw the federal government provide the nation with $42 million in compensation for its “failure to set aside village lands promised under the 1854 Snuneymuxw Sarelquun (Douglas) Treaty.”
“This failure deprived the nation of the use and benefit of those lands for generations,” reads the joint statement Thursday.
Rebecca Alty, Canada’s minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said Thursday’s announcement was a sign of the federal government’s commitment to reconciling relationships with First Nations.
“The resolution of the Teytexen Village Specific Claim also marks a positive step forward in Canada’s relationship with the people of Snuneymuxw First Nation, and reflects our determination to address past wrongs and advance reconciliation with all First Nations,” she said.
Earlier this year, the B.C. government also transferred about 700 hectares of land in the Mount Benson area as part of a land transfer agreement that promised more than 3,000 hectares of land in total to the nation.
As of July, about a third of that total had been transferred, according to the nation.
SEE ALSO: Province, Snuneymuxw First Nation purchase former Nanaimo Howard Johnson site