Federal land in Nanaimo, B.C., added to Snuneymuxw First Nation reserve lands

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Federal land in Nanaimo, B.C., added to Snuneymuxw First Nation reserve lands

British Columbia Almost 80 hectares of federal land in Nanaimo, B.C., has been added to the Snuneymuxw First Nation’s reserve lands.  Nation says it has the lowest per capita reserve land base in B.C.Maryse Zeidler · CBC News · Posted: Oct 16, 2025 9:21 PM EDT | Last Updated: 6 hours agoSnuneymuxw First Nation Chief Mike Wyse and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Rebecca Alty announced the increase of Snuneymuxw First Nation’s land base through the addition to reserve (ATR) process on Oct. 16, 2025. (Submitted by Snuneymuxw First Nation) Almost 80 hectares of federal land in Nanaimo, B.C., has been added to the Snuneymuxw First Nation’s reserve lands.  The property, formerly known as Camp Nanaimo, was once the site of the Nanaimo Indian Hospital and was also used by the Department of National Defence. It makes up part of Snuneymuxw’s te’tuxwtun [Mount Benson] site. “This is the moment our people have worked towards for generations,” Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse said at a press conference on Thursday.”We did it, and we did it together.” The nation says it plans to develop the land with a mix of housing, commercial spaces and “economic development opportunities” based on community feedback from Snuneymuxw First Nation members. “This is no small development. It is the largest development Central [Vancouver] Island has seen in modern times — a multibillion-dollar project that requires decades to plan and build out,” Wyse said. “The prosperity and abundance that come from these lands is now secured — for our children and their children’s children. Always and forever.”A map of the lands transferred from the federal government shows potential plans for the area. (Snuneymuxw First Nation)Honouring treaty rightsThe federal government first announced the transfer in January 2024, as part of reconciliation efforts to honour the Snuneymuxw Sarlequun Treaty of 1854 — one of a handful of treaties with Vancouver Island first nations that make up what are known as the Douglas Treaties.The Snuneymuxw treaty, referred to as a trade and commerce treaty, included a promise that the federal government would protect Snuneymuxw villages, waterways, harvesting and gathering and fishing rights. The nation has long argued that the treaty was never honoured. According to its website, the Snuneymuxw First Nation is one of the largest nations in B.C. with a population of around 2,000 people.The nation says it has the lowest per capita reserve land base in the province.In 2021, the Snuneymuxw signed a memorandum of understanding with the province and the federal government in recognition of the 1854 treaty. Since then, the federal and provincial governments have transferred land back to the Snuneymuxw.WATCH | B.C. returns village site to Snuneymuxw First Nation:B.C. to return downtown Nanaimo village site to SnuneymuxwAn ancient village site is being returned to the Snuneymuxw First Nation. More than two hectares of land next to the Millstone River in Nanaimo will be returned, with plans for development. As Claire Palmer reports, it’s been hailed as a step forward in B.C.’s path to reconciliation.This summer, the province announced it had completed a transfer of more than 700 hectares of land on te’tuxwtun, under a land transfer agreement signed in 2020 that included a total of over 3,000 hectares of land to be transferred to the nation.Earlier this year, the federal government also gave the Snuneymuxw $42 million in compensation for the Crown’s failure to set aside village lands as was promised under the treaty. “Your nation was unjustly deprived of the use and benefit of the lands,” Rebecca Alty, federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said at a media conference.”But now, thanks to the strength and determination of your leadership, that injustice has been resolved and we’ve taken another step on the path of reconciliation.”ABOUT THE AUTHORMaryse Zeidler is an award-winning reporter who covers news from Nanaimo and north Vancouver Island. Have a news tip? You can reach her at maryse.zeidler@cbc.ca.With files from Claire Palmer

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