Canada Lands Corporation (CLC) and MST Development – the development body for the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations – entered into a historic joint venture to develop 8.5 hectares of land near Vancouver’s Cambie Corridor, on the unceded territories of the three Nations.

The proposal is for a new mixed use infill neighbourhood that will be called χews̓ tə na̓ šxʷtə̕ na̓ χətəl ̕ / X a̱ ws̓ uÚxwumixw. It will include market and social housing, a childcare facility, a school, parks, office and retail, and a Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Cultural Centre. It will be organized around a forest trail reminiscent of the trails travelled by MST Nation ancestors.

The consulting team led the rezoning process under the direction of MST and CLC, which included engagement with each of the Nations, guided by cultural liaisons. They are Charleen Grant with the Muqueam Nation, Sxeláltenaat (Adrienne Charlie) with the Squamish Nation, and Whonoak (Dennis Thomas) with the Tsleil-Waututh Nation.

The outcome of the engagement was a Cultural Interpretative Plan that, in the words of one of the Nation’s cultural liaisons, will help “convey our story to each visitor” and create “a place that is different than anywhere else in Vancouver”.

Client | Canada Land Corporation and MST Development (Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh First Nations)

Agency | DIALOG

Consultant Engagement Lead | Jennifer Fix while at DIALOG

Renderings | Matthew Thomson at MTD