Sen̓áḵw
Sen̓áḵw has been a Sḵwx̱wú7mesh village site for thousands of years. This project will tell the story of our Nation, working to partially right a historic wrong where our people were forcibly removed from these lands.
Project WebsiteSen̓áḵw, noun
“The place inside the head of False Creek”
Located on the south shore of Vancouver’s False Creek, Sen̓áḵw is one of 23 ancestral villages of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Stélmexw (People). For generations, it was a place of cultural, social, and economic significance—a hub for trade, harvesting, potlatches, and community life.
In 1913, our Sḵwx̱wú7mesh families were forcibly removed—their homes burned and the land divided into pieces for settler use. But Sḵwx̱wú7mesh leaders never stopped advocating for our rights, and after decades of hard work in courtrooms and beyond, we eventually saw 10.48 acres of Sen̓áḵw returned in a landmark court victory in 2003.
In 2019, a majority of Squamish Nation People voted in favour of the development of Sen̓áḵw—creating a legacy that will benefit generations of our people by returning to the land and generating economic wealth.
Today, this ambitious project is being led by a partnership between the Nation’s economic development group, Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation, and one of Canada’s largest pension funds, OPTrust, under the partnership name Nch’ḵay̓ West. The Sen̓áḵw project is one of the largest First Nations real estate developments in Canadian history.
Sen̓áḵw will set the Nation on a path to economic independence and provide hundreds of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for Squamish People in design, construction, operations, and more. It’s a homecoming for our people—a people born from the land.
Please see chairperson’s letter to community.
Sen̓áḵw Timeline
Restructured Partnership Announced
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation (Nch’ḵay̓) announced a restructured partnership for Sen̓áḵw.
OPTrust, which invests and manages one of Canada’s largest pension funds, increased its ownership stake in the project to 50 per cent, buying out the interest of our former partner, Westbank. The Nation’s interest in the development remains at 50 per cent for Phases One and Two and increased to 100 per cent for Phases Three and Four.
For more information, read our press release here.
Sen̓áḵw Cultural Advisory Panel Formed
The Sen̓áḵw Cultural Advisory Panel was established in January 2024 to ensure the project celebrates and honours the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh cultural identity in all aspects of its development. It brings together community knowledge holders, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh artists, and technical staff to advise on all cultural design decisions.
Residential Tenancy Regulations for Sen̓áḵw
The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw announced that protections in the British Columbia Residential Tenancy Act (BCRTA) will be in place for the Sen̓áḵw development and for select future on-reserve housing developments. This decision helps the Nation meet its housing needs, raise standards in the community, and successfully manage development projects.
For more information, read our press release here.
Funding Announcement and Groundbreaking
On September 6, 2022, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw broke ground on the Sen̓áḵw development during a televised ceremony on site. Council Chairperson Khelsilem joined Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at this event toannounce a historic $1.4-billion in federal support for the project—the largest loan from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in Canadian history.
For more information, read our press release here.
Services Agreement Signed
On May 25, 2022, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Council Chairperson Khelsilem and Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart signed a Services Agreement, an important step forward in development of the Sen̓áḵw lands at the foot of the Burrard Street Bridge.
The Services Agreement creates a framework to guide the government-to-government relationship between the Nation and City of Vancouver, and ensures access to municipal services, amenities, and infrastructure for the Sen̓áḵw neighbourhood over time.
For more information, read our press release or this summary overview of the Services Agreement.
Referendum on Sen̓áḵw
In 2019, Squamish Nation People voted overwhelmingly to rebuild Sen̓áḵw in a referendum that included the land designation for redevelopment. This was a crucial step towards economic independence, with clear support for a project that would bring in rental and tax income for generations to come and help house hundreds of our people.
Landmark Sen̓áḵw Court Victory
In the late 1960s, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Council committed to pursuing the return of Sen̓áḵw through the courts, recognizing the significant sacrifice and investment it would require. Over the following decades, leaders — including the late Chief Joe Mathias and Andy Paull — worked tirelessly to advance the claim. In 2003, after a long legal battle, the Federal Court of Canada returned 10.48 acres of the original 80-acre reserve to the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw.
Nation Updates
Sen̓áḵw continues to grow stronger
August 28, 2025: Today, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is pleased to announce that OPTrust— one of Canada’s largest pension fund investors — has acquired Westbank’s ownership stake in Phases One and Two of the project. OPTrust and the Squamish Nation each now have a 50 per cent ownership interest in these phases. [...]
Services Agreement Signed for Sen̓áḵw Development
May 25, 2022: North Vancouver, BC – Today, the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) is pleased to announce the signing of a services agreement with the City of Vancouver. This agreement […]
Historic Partnership Between Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw and Canada to Create Nearly 3,000 Homes in Vancouver
September 6, 2022: Vancouver, BC – The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, was joined today by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw Council Chairperson Khelsilem on Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw traditional territory to announce the federal government […]