Snuneymuxw Territory, British Columbia - Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
Today, Chief Michael Wyse of the Snuneymuxw First Nation and the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, celebrated the signing of a historic Interim Land Reconciliation Agreement, that will allocate 80.09 hectares of land (the "Camp Nanaimo Lands on Te'tuxwtun") to be set aside as a reserve for the Snuneymuxw First Nation.
The "Camp Nanaimo Lands on Te'tuxwtun", which is part of Snuneymuxw First Nation's traditional territories, was used by Western Forest Products, the Department of National Defence, and as the location of the horrific Nanaimo Indian Hospital. Following this agreement, these lands will be remediated and rightfully returned to the Snuneymuxw People through the additions to the reserve process.
Snuneymuxw Chief and Council have progressive development plans for these lands, which will have great benefits for Snuneymyxw, the city of Nanaimo, and Vancouver Island University. This includes on-reserve housing, economic development, infrastructure upgrades and sustainable forestry projects, which all operate within the broader, interconnected Snuneymuxw territory.
Canada embraces the goal of advancing this enduring Snuneymuxw vision, deepening its commitment to the ongoing collaborative process of reconciliation. This interim land reconciliation agreement is a tangible result of ongoing negotiations and an example of how Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to deliver results.
