Developing Strategies to Generate Wealth in the Squamish Nation
How would you develop 250 acres of prime real estate in one of the most constrained housing market in the world?
The Squamish Nation, one of the largest First Nations in British Columbia, has invited companies to submit a Letter of Interest to help us develop land use strategies for 250 acres of our lands located in Squamish, Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver, and North Vancouver. The lands themselves are situated in Xwmél̓ch’stn (I.R. No. 5), Stá7mes (I.R. No. 24), Ch’ḵw’elhp (I.R. No. 26), Ch'ich'élx̱ wí7ḵw (I.R. No. 2).
The Squamish Nation has existed as a government since 1923. Historically, we have been socially, economically, and politically organized into several physical communities called an úxwumixw (“village; people”) in the Squamish People's territory. The territory of the Squamish People extends from Point Grey to Robert’s Creek on the Sunshine Coast and includes the Burrard Inlet, English Bay, False Creek, and Howe Sound watersheds. While historically, the Squamish People had a tradition of dual residencies between the Howe Sound Watershed and the English Bay or Burrard Inlet watershed, the majority of Squamish People today live on the North Shore of Vancouver in three communities – West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and approximately 10 percent of the population live in communities along the Squamish River in Squamish, British Columbia.
As part of this exciting initiative, the Squamish Nation Council recently passed a moratorium on unsolicited development proposals on Nation lands for 14 months, enabling the Nation to review and assess the lands and create a long-range capital plan – a first for the Nation. An important component of this planning work involves creating site-specific land and community development strategies for high-priority Squamish Nation properties to ensure strong alignment with the social, cultural, political, and environmental objectives of the Nation while also maximizing the economic value of the lands.
Long-Range Capital Planning
The Squamish Nation also announced that we will create a long-range capital plan.
A long-range capital plan is a strategic financial plan outlining our government’s capital expenditures over an extended period, potentially 10 years or more. Our plan will include details on how our government intends to fund its capital projects, such as building or renovating facilities and infrastructure.
A long-range capital plan typically includes an inventory of existing assets, an analysis of the organization's future needs analysis, and a list of proposed capital projects with estimated costs, timelines, and expected outcomes. Our plan will consider our government’s ability to generate revenue, cash flow projections, debt service requirements, and other factors that could impact the government’s ability to fund our capital projects.
The primary objective of our long-range capital plan is to ensure that our government’s capital investments are aligned with its strategic goals and objectives while ensuring that the organization has the necessary financial resources to fund its projects sustainably over the long term.
Our community has long wanted to see our revenues go towards building new capital projects or renovating and repairing existing capital projects. At various times, our people have asked for the following:
new athletic fields,
fitness centres,
community centres,
elder care homes,
longhouses,
lacrosse boxes,
elementary and secondary schools,
sewage & water infrastructure
flood protection
clean water infrastructure, and
affordable housing.
Our long-range capital plan aims to identify all our community's needs and wishes and research the estimated cost for all the possible projects. Understanding the total cost will help us decide how to develop other lands we own to generate billions of dollars to fund those projects.
Sustainable Economic Development
The Nch’ḵaỷ Corp, established in 2018, is the economic development arm of the Nation. The corporation's mandate is to develop, manage and own the active businesses of the Nation. The Hiy̓ám̓ Housing was created in 2019 in response to an intensive engagement process which revealed that the number one priority of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stélmexw was ensuring that all members were housed within a generation. The mandate for Hiy̓ám̓ Housing is to build safe, equitable and affordable housing for all Squamish People with a vision to be a leader in creating safe, healthy, inclusive, affordable communities where Squamish People are engaged and empowered.
The four properties under consideration for the Land Use Strategy Consultant Services are the Marine Drive area of Xwmélch’sten Capilano I.R. No. 5 (including the International Plaza site), Stá7mes I.R. No. 24 (including Site B), Ch’ḵw’elhp I.R. No. 26, and Ch'ich'élx̱ wí7ḵw Seymour I.R. No. 2 (including Lynnwood Marina). The Lead Consultant Team will assist the Nation and Nch’ḵaỷ Corp with developing Land Use Strategies for the future use of the subject lands that meet the collective interest of the Nation, Nch’ḵaỷ Corp, and Hiyam Housing.
As an example, we’re now under construction on the Sen̓áḵw Development. When first proposed to the Squamish Nation community, conservative estimates predicted $10 billion of cash flowing to the Squamish Nation over 99 years to support its government programs and services. That estimate is likely higher now due to tax savings & increase predictions on rental revenue. So, if we can unlock $10+ billion on just 10 acres of land, what can we unlock on 250 acres of land? The development of Land Use Strategies will help us answer that question.
This project is a significant opportunity for consulting teams to work with the Squamish Nation in planning the land use and community development of the subject lands while ensuring that the development strategies align with the social, cultural, political, and environmental objectives of the Nation.
This is an exciting opportunity for a consulting team to work with one of the largest First Nations in British Columbia and contribute to our goal of creating safe, equitable, and affordable housing for all Squamish People. The selected consultant will have the chance to collaborate with the Nation, Nch’ḵaỷ Corp, and Hiy̓ám̓ Housing in developing a coherent framework plan for the entire subject property.
Developing and Implementing a Plan
The work about to be undertaken will paint a picture of what the Squamish Nation will look, feel, and sound like as we work with our community to develop their wish list and then develop a plan for how to pay for it. As we’ve demonstrated with Sen̓áḵw, the Squamish Nation can deliver. We are ready and excited to work with potential partners to provide significant housing for our people and the massive demand in the Lower Mainland.
The Squamish Nation is inviting companies to submit a Letter of Interest to help us develop strategies of 250 acres of land located in Squamish, Sunshine Coast, West Vancouver, and North Vancouver. The Squamish Nation Council passed a moratorium on unsolicited development proposals on Nation lands for 14 months, enabling the Nation to review and assess the lands and create a long-range capital plan, which aims to identify all community needs and wishes, research the estimated costs for possible projects, and generate billions of dollars to fund these projects. The development of Land Use Strategies will help identify how to develop other lands owned by the Nation to unlock economic potential.
It is my position that Tribes must build as many businesses wholly owned by the Tribe to ensure steady capital investment into Tribal infrastructure. I would like to propose that Squamish build a greenhouse agricultural system that creates good paying jobs while at the same time earning high profits to invest back into the Tribe. Squamish greenhouse production could grow anything from food crops to cannabis. From crop production the Tribe could develop food and cannabis processing facilities to create value added products and marketed under Tribal brands. I am experienced in these fields and sold my farm products to America's largest grocer and consulted with other famers to get their products of the shelf at chains like Loblaws and restaurants and small grocers. I would be glad to consult the Tribe on it's economic development.