It is another historic step toward reconciliation.
Today, July 22, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and the District of Squamish celebrated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
With Nation and District representatives arriving by canoe transported on a flat-bed truck due to high winds that made water travel unsafe, the signing ceremony took place at Sp’akw’us Feather Park on the Squamish oceanfront.
Dignitaries gathered for the occasion, including Nation Chairperson Khelsilem, Nation councillor and spokesperson Sxwíxwtn Wilson Williams, Squamish Mayor Armand Hurford, members of both councils, District and Nation staff, and Elders, among others.
MOUs are non-binding agreements between entities, like governments and Nations, that are based on moral or political commitments. They signal shared aims of working together on aligned goals.
'A huge day'
“Today was a huge day for all of us,” said Williams in an interview with The Squamish Chief after the ceremony.
“Speaking on behalf of the Squamish Nation people—a very historic day for us. We're in a new realm of this relationship with the District of Squamish. We all live here. We're all not going away. We come to a place beyond the challenges and historical missteps, or overlooking things. We really looked at how we can move forward together, and how we could pave the way for a stronger community here, as we all live together.”
The MOU between the Nation and the District outlines six priority activities that "respond to past and ongoing injustices, while promoting a more inclusive and co-operative future," according to a joint news release.
"These include the District’s formal recognition of the impacts of colonization on the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People and a community-based truth-telling process that will culminate in a public apology."
The apology will be from the District to the Nation and one that "acknowledges the impacts of colonization and settlement on the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People, lands and waters," reads a release.
Over the next three years, the MOU commits both governments to:
- Holding council-to-council meetings at least twice a year.
- Co-developing a referrals management agreement, which recognizes Squamish Nation jurisdiction and involvement in decisions on land use, infrastructure, and development.
- Aligning land use and community planning processes, such as the renewal of the District’s Official Community Plan (OCP) and the Squamish Valley Community Development Plan (SVCDP), led by Squamish Nation.
- Establishing a joint Land Back Task Force to explore pathways for the return or co-management of public lands.
The agreement also includes a commitment to pause any development on Brackendale Farmers Institute Park while the governments explore the potential transfer of this Crown land to the Nation.
Discussions are about public, not private lands
Hurford clarified that land back discussions are about public—not any private—lands.
“This is about public lands, and that can mean any number of things, and we're trying to figure out what that is. The way to do that is to work collaboratively with our friends at the Nation to really establish what the landscape of that looks like.”
The agreement ensures continued public access to parks and green spaces while exploring co-management opportunities.
In terms of access to recreation, the agreement aims to open up barrier-free access for all. In time, there is a plan to provide Sḵwx̱wú7mesh individuals with access to District recreational facilities and programs at a reduced cost.
Though the MOU is not legally binding, progress will be monitored through oversight committees and council-to-council meetings.
'Synergies are uniting'
“The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh People have lived on these beautiful lands for thousands of years, and it is integral that we are recognized both as a part of its history, and as a key decision-maker in planning its future," Williams said, in the joint release.
"The MOU is a significant step forward in ensuring both. We look forward to strengthening our relationship with the District of Squamish and collaborating in meaningful ways that will make Squamish a more vibrant and inclusive place for all."
In the interview after the ceremony, Williams stressed the mutual respect established with the District.
“We're still struggling as Indigenous peoples to integrate in Western society ways of being, but we're more empowered now because we're carrying our culture so proudly that it is not hidden anymore. We're allowed to share our language, practice, ceremony, be amongst people, show it off. This reclamation and revitalization, we're doing it together,” he said.
“The synergies are uniting. And this was a big step today.”
Hurford said the agreement is also an invitation to the rest of the community to join the journey to reconciliation.
“This MOU is the next important step in our journey with the Squamish Nation, and it is also an invitation to our community to work alongside us to advance reconciliation in action," he said.
"It reflects and furthers work already happening across Squamish, builds on the 2023 Wa Iyi ́̓m ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Strong) Protocol Agreement) and reaffirms our commitment to walk this path alongside Squamish Nation. This agreement is founded on trust, recognizing shared values, and working to address historical wrongs in very tangible ways to create a stronger future together for all of us.”
As for next steps, public information and collaboration sessions, along with other public engagement opportunities, will take place in the coming months, "offering space to learn, ask questions, and help shape implementation," the release states.
“This signifies the continuation of work, and it is something that the entire community will need to educate themselves on,” Hurford said. “It's an entire community.”
This is the second historic agreement signed in Squamish in as many months.
On June 26, a signing ceremony was held at the Sea–to–Sky Gondola to mark the signing of a Land Use Agreement between the Nation and the provincial government. That agreement sees 20,000 hectares of Crown land in the Squamish area returned to the Nation.
More details and opportunities to engage in this MOU process with the District and Nation will be available in the coming months. Watch both the Squamish Nation and the District's websites for more information.
Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.
