About Us

Frequently Asked Questions

Who are the people of the Squamish Nation?
A group of Salish people who, since time immemorial, have lived in villages in Greater Vancouver, Howe Sound and the Squamish River watershed.  After contact with European settlers, 16 tribes united as the Squamish Band on July 23, 1923.

What is the size of the Squamish Nation?
Traditional Squamish territory measures 6,732 square miles.

How many people are members of the Squamish Nation?
Currently, there are 3,446 official members.  1,941 of whom live on Squamish Nation reserves.  The others live elsewhere in Canada and around the world.

What is Bill C-49 and what does it mean for the Squamish Nation?
In June 1999, Bill C-49 was made into federal law, giving the Squamish Nation the opportunity to control, manage and make its own laws with respect to its reserve lands and resources.  No longer bound by the Indian Act, the Squamish Nation is now developing its own lands in order to provide new economic opportunities for its people.
 
What is the Omnibus Trust Action?
In 1977, the Squamish Nation filed the Omnibus Trust Action in order to settle all its outstanding claims – those areas of reserve lands wrongfully taken from the Squamish Nation.  Since that time, the Nation has successfully negotiated the return of parcels of land at Mission, Capilano, Stawamus and Kwum Kwum.

What lands are still unresolved?
Still unresolved are settlements for land at Kitsilano IR 6 (see separate section), Bouillon, Squamish Valley, Third Street in North Vancouver, various railway “cut-off” lands and Lynwood Marina.

What is the state of the Squamish Nation’s land claims negotiations?
In 1993, the Squamish Nation officially began to negotiate its land claim under the British Columbia Treaty Commission.  The claim is currently at Stage Three of a Six Stage process.  The late Squamish Chief Joe Mathias described the pace of these negotiations as “glacial'”.