12 INVEST in BC 2 0 2 4 Official Publication of the BC Economic Development Association in special partnership with BCBusiness.
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CIT
Y
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MISSION;
ISTOCK/NATOLIY_GLEB;
OPPOSITE
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CRANBROOK
TOURISM/ABBY
COOPER
will return traditional lands to the
First Nations and establish new public
parklands and recreation areas.
Leq'á:mel Chief Alice Thompson,
Matsqui Chief Alice McKay and Sumas
Chief Dalton Silver were joined by Murray
Rankin, Minister of Indigenous Relations
and Reconciliation, and Paul Horn, mayor
of Mission, for the signing of Í:xel Sq'eq'ó,
a Hul'qumi'num phrase that translates to
English as "Together we paddle."
Unique in that it brings together First
Nations, the province and local govern-
ment, the agreement will see the provincial
government transfer approximately 60
hectares of Crown land to the LMS Society,
which represents the three First Nations.
The lands will be subdivided to create a
park parcel of approximately 50 hectares,
which will be leased to Mission to manage
for public use as a community park and
recreational area, and two development
parcels, to be developed by the First Na-
tions to support much-needed housing in
the area and increase economic and social
opportunities.
A park management plan will be collab-
oratively developed by LMS and Mission to
maintain the natural character of the area,
protect sensitive environmental elements,
enhance cultural and historic understand-
ing, and guide improvements over time.
"From the First Nations perspective,
since the land is now in their ownership as
NEIGHBOURS
WORKING
TOGETHER
Partnerships between
local governments
and First Nations are
flowering across B.C.,
to mutual benefit
BY JOANNE PETERS
"C
ommunity to community"
partnerships between
municipalities and
neighbouring First Nations
can create economic
opportunities in various
different industries. The
collaborations are mutually beneficial and
offer prospects for the future.
Consider a recent agreement between
the Province of British Columbia, the
Leq'á:mel, Matsqui and Sumas First
Nations and the City of Mission that
NEW UNDERSTANDING: An agreement
between Mission and area First Nations
that translates to "Together we paddle"
covers matters of mutual concern
including public parklands, recreation
and housing (left and above)
