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NORTH VANCOUVER - A unanimous 5-judge panel of the British Columbia Court of Appeal has yesterday affirmed a decision of the B.C. Supreme Court that restores 10.7 acres of land in the former Kitsilano Indian Reserve as reserve land for the Squamish Nation. The land was expropriated from the Squamish people by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) in 1886 and 1902 and was used for railway purposes until the late 1980s when CPR attempted to sell the 10-acre parcel.

        The Kitsilano Reserve, which is located at Kitsilano Point in Vancouver, was the ancestral home to many Squamish families. An 1886 letter, referred to in the Court's decision, quotes Chief Chipwhaim, a Squamish Chief at Kitsilano, discussing the importance of the land to the Squamish people in response to a claim by the CPR to obtain the whole of the reserve:

"We want you to write strongly about this land - it is our home - our ancestors are buried here. We are willing to let the railroad pass through but no more.... We wish to cultivate this land to look upon it as the home of ourselves and our children who come after us."

        The land in question in this case is adjacent to the Molson Brewery underneath and next to the Burrard Street Bridge. The effect of the Court's decision is to restore the land as reserve status. Although there were three First Nations involved in this case, the Federal Court ruled in April 2001 that the Kitsilano Reserve is a Squamish reserve. Thus, the effect of the Court of Appeal's decision yesterday is to restore this land for the Squamish Nation.

        According to Chief Jacob, Lands Claims Coordinator for the Squamish Nation, the court decision is one of the most significant events in the history of the Squamish people. Chief Jacob noted that Chief Joe Mathias, who passed away on March 10, 2000, dedicated much of his adult life to the protection of Squamish lands.

        Jacob added that "this court decision represents the strength, wisdom and foresight of our ancestors and will help our chiefs and council of today secure a future for our children and our children's children."

Extensive information on the court decision is available at the following site; Court of Appeal for British Columbia ~ Docket: CA027336/CA027337

For further information contac: Juniper Groves, Communications Specialist, Squamish Nation, 320 Seymour Blvd., North Vancouver, BC, V7J 2J3
Phone: 604-980-4553 (office), 604-315-4225 (cellular), Fax: 604-980-4523, Email: juniper_groves@squamish.net