(Coast Salish Traditional Territory/Vancouver, BC) — The First Nations Summit is applauding the efforts of the Musqueam First Nation and the provincial government in reaching the important agreement announced today regarding the UBC Golf Course lands.
“Although it is unfortunate the Musqueam were forced to take legal action to prevent the transfer of the UBC Golf Course lands and to prompt the negotiations which led to today’s important agreement, we congratulate the Musqueam and BC for their time and efforts in working together to negotiate an agreement that works for all parties”, said Chief Judith Sayers, member of the First Nations Summit political executive.
In their legal case, the Musqueam First Nation, through appeal, sought to block the transfer of lands (known as the UBC Golf Course lands) from the Crown to the University of British Columbia because the Crown had not fulfilled its legal obligation to consult and accommodate the Musqueam First Nation. The case resulted in a unanimous BC Court of Appeal decision to allow the Musqueam to appeal a lower court ruling as the consultation and accommodation process the Musqueam was subjected to by government was defective.