Kwikwetlem First Nation lays claim to lands once used for Riverview Hospital

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PORT COQUITLAM (NEWS1130) – The Kwikwetlem First Nation has written a strongly worded letter stating it expects to become the owner of the Riverview Lands and lead future development there.

This follows the Tsilhqot’in’s recent land title victory at the Supreme Court.

“The Kwikwetlem First Nation has been working on this for about 20 years now,” says Chief Ron Giesbrecht. “Now it’s just time for us to come out and announce to the public what our intentions are.”

Giesbrecht says his Nation’s lawyers are still digesting what affect the recent ruling will have on his Nation’s claim, but given BC Housing’s review on what to do with the lands, he feels now is the time to act.

“Just for the fact they want to do some development up on Riverview and BC Housing and the province were starting to move forward with that land,” he explains. “It’s time for us to come out and say our opinion on that… We waited and said what we wanted to say about it.”

Elsewhere around the province, First Nations appear emboldened by the Supreme Court’s Tsilhqot’in ruling, with the Gitxsan ordering the eviction of CN Rail, sport fishermen and loggers, and the Gitxaala stating it plans to file a suit in court challenging federal approval of the Northern Gateway project.

Full letter from the Kwikwetlem First Nation:

The Kwikwetlem First Nation wishes to put the Province and its agencies, local municipalities, and citizen’s groups on notice that the Kwikwetlem claim aboriginal title interests to all the lands associated with Riverview Hospital (Riverview Lands), among other areas in their traditional territory.

The Kwikwetlem First Nation have plied the waters and lived on the land of their traditional territory since time immemorial. Evidence of the Kwikwetlem First Nation’s occupation of the territory reaches back nearly 9000 years. In particular, Elders’ stories tell of the Kwikwetlem intensively using and occupying the lands surrounding what is now referred to as the Coquitlam River, including the Riverview Lands. The Kwikwetlem First Nation have thousands of years of traditions tied to the Riverview Lands, including the use and occupation of the land itself.

Through community consultation and legal review, the Kwikwetlem First Nation have decided to announce their position on Riverview based on their claim of title. The Kwikwetlem First Nation wish to make it clear that they expect to become an owner of the Riverview Lands and lead the future development of these lands.

The Kwikwetlem First Nation envision a development scenario for Riverview that is based on highest and best use with a goal towards maximizing the benefits to the Nation as land owner. In response to the myriad of recommendations for the future development of the Riverview Lands, the Kwikwetlem First Nation will contemplate any use that makes economic sense.

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