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Senakw

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Coordinates: 49°16′25″N 123°08′33″W / 49.2735°N 123.1426°W / 49.2735; -123.1426
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49°16′25″N 123°08′33″W / 49.2735°N 123.1426°W / 49.2735; -123.1426

"Indian Encampment" by Emily Carr, c. 1908, depicting Sen̓áḵw

Sen̓áḵw (Salishan pronunciation: [sen̰aqʷ]) or sən̓aʔqʷ (Salishan pronunciation: [sənˀaʔqʷ]), rendered in English as Snawk, Snawq, Sneawq, or Snawkw, is a village site of the Indigenous Squamish people, located near what is now known as the Kitsilano neighbourhood of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In 1869 the Colonial Government set aside land around the village, and in 1877 the Joint Reserve Commission established by the Provincial and Federal Governments to deal with land allotments to indigenous people in B.C., expanded the area set aside to approximately 80 acres (32 ha) as False Creek Indian Reserve No. 6 or more popularly the Kitsilano Indian Reserve. The village site was home for many Squamish, but after further settlement began in the Vancouver area, the inhabitants were forced to relocate to other nearby villages. A 11.7 acres (4.7 ha) slice was returned to Squamish control in 2001 in a court settlement. The Squamish are building a highrise housing development on the land.

This village was also the home of August Jack Khatsahlano, a prominent chief (or siy̓ám̓[1]) of the Squamish and a notable Vancouver historian on local Indigenous history.

History

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Map of New Westminster District, 1877. Senakw is marked "I.R." ("Indian Reserve") near False Creek.

After the Indian Act was passed in 1876, and with the Joint Indian Reserve Commission, a reserve was plotted out for the native peoples living at this location.[2] Both in 1886 and 1902, portions of the reserve were expropriated by the federal government for railway purposes. In 1913 the B.C. Provincial Government induced the residents to relocate by coercing them to sell, an action which was later found to be illegal. Many families were placed on a barge and towed to other communities in the Burrard Inlet area.[3]

In 2001, a settlement was agreed between the courts and the Squamish Nation for the return of 11.7 acres (4.7 ha) of land, coming from the land possessed by the CPR, located near Vanier Park, underneath Burrard Street Bridge.[4][5]

Housing development

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In 2019, the Squamish Nation announced plans to build a housing development on this land. Initially planned for 3,000 units,[6] it was later increased to 6,000 units.[7][8] The tallest buildings in the development will be 56 stories and are exempt from local height restrictions.[9] The development will also include 886 vehicle parking spaces, 4,477 bicycle parking spots, parkspace, and a transit hub on the south end of the Burrard Bridge.[10] At the project's groundbreaking ceremony on September 6, 2022, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau announced a $1.4 billion federal government loan to the Squamish First Nation for the development.[11]

As of March 2024, the official website of the Senakw development indicates that the project will be built in four phases of similar sizes, with occupancy projected between 2025 and 2030.[12] At completion, the project will offer at least 6,000 rental homes, at least 1,200 of which are affordable. The total floor space will be 4,000,000 square feet (370,000 m2), 45,000 of which would be made out of mass timber.[13]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Sk̲wx̲wú7mesh sníchim - xwelíten sníchim : Sk̲exwts = Squamish - English dictionary. Squamish Nation Education Department, University of Washington. Seattle: University of Washington Press. 2011. p. 141. ISBN 978-0-295-99022-4. OCLC 580105040.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ^ Hogben, David (August 29, 2002) The Vancouver Sun, Kitsilano land belongs to natives, appeal judges agree Archived February 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine p.A2
  3. ^ Sterrit, Angela. "The little-known history of Squamish Nation land in Vancouver". CBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  4. ^ Lancaster, Deanna (September 1, 2002), The North Shore News, Natives accepting 92.5 million from Feds Archived February 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine p.10
  5. ^ SOC Mathias et al.[full citation needed]
  6. ^ "Squamish Nation plans large housing development at south end of Burrard Bridge". CBC News. Retrieved May 2, 2019.
  7. ^ "Vancouver mayor calls massive First Nation development a 'gift to the city'". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 7, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2019.
  8. ^ "Squamish Nation planning 6,000 new homes next to Burrard Bridge". dailyhive.com.
  9. ^ Halliday, Matthew (January 3, 2020). "The bold new plan for an Indigenous-led development in Vancouver". The Guardian. Retrieved September 30, 2021.
  10. ^ Bula, Frances (August 13, 2022). "Squamish Nation development in Vancouver aims to add 10,000 residents, creating the city's densest community yet". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  11. ^ Fumano, Dan (September 6, 2022). "Feds announce $1.4 billion loan for Squamish Nation's Sen̓áḵw project". Vancouver Sun. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  12. ^ "Design - Sen̓áḵw". senakw.com.
  13. ^ "Vision - Sen̓áḵw". senakw.com.
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