‘Looking back, paddling forward’: What is the Squamish Nation Squamish Valley Community Plan?

What we know about Squamish Nation’s 10-year vision for the Squamish Valley.

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) have been developing services within North Vancouver and Sen ̓ áḵw in recent years, but last year they unveiled an action plan for implementing those they anticipate for the Squamish Valley. What, literally, is the plan? Ta Skwekwiy̓íntsuts ta Sx̱wéx̱wel, (Squamish Valley Community Plan or The Valley’s Plan) is an official document outlying the transformation of the valley “in a good way,” and establishing a framework for “major projects” taking place over the next decade.

These “major projects” include the establishment of a Squamish Nation constitution, the development and upgrading of infrastructure, housing, facilities, and education services, which will be developed with the federal government. What’s happened so far, and who has been considered? The “made-in-the-valley plan” was revealed to the public for feedback at Totem Hall in December last year, and formally approved by the Nation in February.

This “unveiling” was attended by around 60 people and feedback was “positive and consistent,” the plan states. The finalization of the plan took 16 months to complete, beginning around fall 2024; Squamish Valley Operations staff helped in reaching out to elders and reviewing past work, before meeting with family and advisory groups at the start of 2025. According to the plan, around 200 participants attended the sessions and workshops to help craft the plan’s vision.

Common themes that emerged from these discussions included: - The want to leverage past work rather than repeating it; - Recognizing a “growing focus” on the valley (with a growing Nation population and a limited land base in Vancouver, over time, the focus of development could shift to the valley), and; - To support equity (the valley does not currently get the same “attention” nor support as the North Shore, for example, appropriate with its population and the amount of Squamish lands in the valley.) A 12-member Community Advisory Group was also established in April last year, meeting nine times over eight months to provide advice and guidance for the plan.

The plan represents decades of planning work alongside feedback from valley people, according to the plan’s overview. “The valley’s plan actions and the foundational projects provide a pathway, or stream, upon which we can paddle together towards our 2035 Vision,” the Nation's website reads. “It will inform our Nation’s next Council Strategic Plan (2026 – 2030) and inform the development of Squamish Nation’s departmental annual plans.”

All plan actions will honour and respect cultural practices and wellness in the valley, prioritizing Nation member operated businesses, and capacity building, the plan’s overview states. The plan’s priorities under ‘two linked visions’ The plan envisages a decade from 2035, and also a decade back from 2035. The Nation’s priorities are as follows: - Health and wellness (physical, spiritual, and mental health); - Culture and language (protection and practice); - Housing and infrastructure (address needs and improve facilities); - Lands, waters and air (protection and stewardship in the valley); - Education (for all ages and needs); - Governance (ensure valley voices guide valley governance); - Prosperity (foster local economy while supporting valley businesses).

All these priorities are “interconnected and important” to the valley, according to the plan’s overview. There are 18 actions planned in total until 2035, organized into three categories which feed into each other; the Quick Starts, Next Steps, and Seeds. Nekw tsixw kwis p’í7ḵsim ̓ (Quick Starts): 2026-27 These are immediate actions, which have already been implemented, to provide the framework for the plan’s “most important projects.”

A 10-person Squamish Valley Community Advisory Committee (modelled on the Community Advisory Group) was formally established in April this year, to “support outreach and communications ... and improve information-sharing between valley people, Nation departments, and council,” according to the Nation’s website. They are due to meet monthly from the fall, with no meetings taking place during August and December. The committee will “include a diversity of representatives from villages across the valley and would help re-establish more traditional village-based family meetings that would be organized to support the committee’s work in the valley,” the plan reads.

Squamish Valley councillors will participate as members but will not have decision-making authority. A project lead—or point of contact—to oversee the plan’s implementation and to provide administrative support for the committee, as well as a communications framework (more in-person meetings with the committee, and family dinners) are also due to be established in the fall, depending on the Nation’s budget. Híw̓ ḵwam ̓ chat eḵ’

(Next Steps): 2027-31 These are eight projects which require additional planning and assessment; they will be established with the help of the advisory committee, and will depend on feedback from valley people, as well as budgeting. The projects have already begun, according to the plan’s overview. These are: - Squamish Valley Community Needs Survey (to establish root causes).

- Neurodiverse Learning Support (approximately 50% of children and youth in the valley have been identified as neurodiverse). - Men’s Wellness Service. - Squamish Valley Transportation System (improving and expanding transportation and transit services between the valley and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor).

- Squamish Valley People’s Guide (a resource guide to teach Nation members how to “properly access” valley lands and waters). - Squamish Valley Guardians Expansion (environmental stewardship). - Squamish Valley Ecotourism (identify and develop a Nation-owned and operated eco-tourism business).

- Wayfinding and signage (using traditional place names and language on signage). Spén̓ penem (Seeds): 2030-35 There are seven building and facility projects (or “seeds”) that may extend “beyond the plan’s timeframe,” but may be expedited depending on the progress of the Nation’s Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱w ta Úxwumixw (Planning and Capital projects), namely the Wíwḵ’em Village Plan (Hiy ̓ ám ̓

Housing’s and Nch’ḵay ̓ Corporation’s near-term plan to develop 600 new homes on Squamish Nation land), and land development strategy projects such as St’á7mes (bringing every Squamish person home within a generation). The projects are: - Community Meeting Spaces (more flexible spaces). - Holistic Health Services Centre.

- Squamish Valley Treatment Centre (care closer to community). - Community Arts Hub Space (a facility for all valley artists, including carvers, weavers, beaders, jewellers and painters). - Recreation spaces.

- Squamish Hotel (employment opportunities for Nation members and opportunities to generate Nation revenue, also supporting members during times of need). - Squamish Business Park (employment opportunities, and affordable space for Nation members). These “seeds,” according to the plan, should be planted and tended until 2034 or 2035, when the plan is due for renewal.

Anything else in the plan? Various Indigenous terminology, as well as the Nation’s values, are elaborated upon. Land maps and graphics are also inserted for clarity.

Folks can read all details in the plan online via the Nation’s website. When is the plan due for review? The plan states that the Nation is committed to reviewing the plan “no longer than five years after its adoption to determine if an update is required.”

A full update of the plan will take place “no longer than 10 years following its adoption.” Words missing in article? Your ad blocker might be preventing hyperlinked text from appearing.

Ina Pace is The Squamish Chief's Local Journalism Initiative (LJI) reporter. This reporting was produced through the LJI, which supports original civic journalism across Canada.