NANAIMO — The transfer of 877 hectares of heavily treed land marks a new beginning for the Snuneymuxw First Nation, its chief said Wednesday.
Chief Doug White said the reconciliation agreement signed with the provincial government will allow his First Nation to pursue forestry opportunities.
Only one-third of the band’s members live on reserve land, and finding more land for his people has been an ongoing challenge, White said.
“That’s going to give my people what is required to begin to hold ourselves up in a new way,” he said.
The document authorizes the transfer of three parcels of land totalling 877 hectares in the Mount Benson area in Nanaimo from the province to the Snuneymuxw.
The agreement also transfers title to a small parcel of land in Departure Bay. That parcel is less than a hectare and fronts Departure Bay between Wingrove Street and Bay Street in Nanaimo.
In addition to the land transfer, expected to take four months, the agreement contains an engagement protocol to help with future discussions between the two parties on land-use referrals, discussions surrounding the Douglas Treaty and future use and management of the Nanaimo River Estuary. B.C. Aboriginal Relations Minister Ida Chong said such action would reduce uncertainty in the region and foster investment and economic growth.
“This is not a journey that we travel independently,” she said. “It is a journey that we can only travel on together.”
The Snuneymuxw’s current operating permit at Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park will also be extended for two years, and Chong said there would be discussions about a long-term arrangement.
Although the document is not a treaty, Chong said: “Every step we take is always a step toward getting a final agreement.”
