BURST
The Musqueam Indian Band and the federal government have signed three deals that recognize the band’s Aboriginal rights and increase its role in fisheries and marine emergency management.
According to a statement from Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, the agreements “represent a major step forward towards reconciliation and incremental implementation of Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights.”
The first agreement recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights and title to its traditional territory and creates a framework for the gradual implementation of those rights within Canada.
The second agreement creates a joint working group to create an agreement “to protect and manage the waters and resources within Musqueam territory,” working with the Canadian Coast Guard.
The third agreement gives the band shared decision-making over fisheries with Musqueam territory and well as money for fishing vessels and gear.
“These agreements reflect a true nation-to-nation partnership with Musqueam. They build on Musqueam’s long history of advancing recognition of their Aboriginal rights, and follow other recent milestones, such as the revenue sharing agreement and the initialling of the Musqueam Self-Government Agreement,” the government statement read .
In February 2025, the 1,300 member band signed a confidential deal with the federal government to share lease revenue paid to Ottawa by the Vancouver International Airport.
Musqueam Indian Band Chief Wayne Sparrow said the agreements were historic.
“In signing these agreements, the Government of Canada is acknowledging Musqueam’s Aboriginal title and rights to our traditional territory and recognizing our expertise in both marine management and fisheries management,” he said.
Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said the fisheries deal would protect the Musqueam fisheries for generations.
The federal government states the band’s traditional territory centres around the mouth of the Fraser River and the City of Vancouver and surrounding areas. The Musqueam Indian Reserve is located south of Marine Drive near the river mouth.
The band’s economic activities are managed by the Musqueam Capital Corporation and include the Fraser Arms property, Milltown Marina, Musqueam Golf & Learning Academy, Shalimar Place and the University Golf Club.
The Musqueam band is also part of a $1 billion joint venture company (MST Development Corporation) with the Squamish Nation and Tsleil-Waututh Nation.
The company is overseeing the development of 160 acres of land throughout Metro Vancouver. This includes the Jericho Lands, Marine Drive Lands, Heather Street Lands, 320 East Broadway (co-owned with the Aquilini Investment Group) and the Willingdon Lands in Burnaby.