Feature's

July 2004

Woodlands at the Qayqayt

Tom Mellish
OP Contributor

The traditional territory of the Qayqayt First
Nation Band No. 566, the New Westminster
Indian Band, is being threatened. BC Buildings
Corporation (BCBC) has hired Onni Management
Services to develop the historic site, without con-
sulting the Qaygqayt First Nation on the use of their
traditional territory. Also, BCBC has rejected the
idea of using the site as the band’s new land-base,
and education and cultural centre. Instead, the
crown corporation has opted for a community that
is culturally, if not racially, segregated. If the
Qaygayt seek to block construction, the courts may
support their territorial right, which could create a
staggering financial loss.

The provincial government has displaced
Woodlands residents, and rezoned the prime real
estate, selling it to condo developers Onni
Development Capital Corporation for $18.3 mil-
lion. The massive waterfront property, five minutes
from the SkyTrain, is likely to be worth upwards of
$100 million. There is no indication that there will
be any affordable family housing on the site,
despite both a provincial policy on the use of
provincial land for affordable housing and New
Westminster's own Housing Strategy.

The plan to develop the 64 to 65 acres of “his-
toric” (1878-1996) Woodlands into a Euro-style
village was unanimously passed at the fourth and
final reading in 2002.

The developers will undoubtedly benefit from
the Woodlands site, and the endeavour will most
likely employ many people. Yet, their job security
could be threatened.

Onni intends to develop the property in four
phases over the next eight years, with the bulk of
public amenities scheduled for construction in the
first stages.

BCBC heralds this village as “vibrant” and “fully
modern,” honouring the European history of the
site and reflecting New Westminster's culturally
exclusive character. BCBC was awarded the PIBC
Award of Excellence for Site Planning and Design
for the Woodlands redevelopment plan. The
awards jury found that the plan supports municipal
and regional goals of creating complete communi-
ties by locating residential uses near commercial
and recreational opportunities. The development
also respects the site’s history by “preserving and re-
adapting heritage assets.”

As of yet the Sto:lo village site, Skaiametl, does
not have heritage designation. Will there be an

26 | OtherPress

investigation of the trees to see if any are culturally
modified trees?’ Will the Woodlands project be
wary of the potential archaeological finds at this
ancient heritage site? Will the heritage of the
Qaygqayt be observed, respected, and encouraged?
Will the Qayqayt First Nation be invited to partic-
ipate in the management of traditional lands?

The problems currently facing the Qayqayt are
that of acknowledgement, preservation, and
financing. The municipality still has not acknowl-
edged the heritage rights, let alone the territorial
rights of the Qayqayt; the city is more bent on pre-
serving white colonialism than First Nations needs.
Here is an archaeological site, potentially thou-
sands of years old. There are no signposts to point
out where the historical villages are and no maps,
for it has become an issue swept under the carpet.
Preservation of these sites is, perhaps, beyond hope.
Yet no one has ruled out the potential for the pos-
sibility. Such endeavours would bring tourists, for
the First Nation cultures are revered and respected
internationally; their art, language, and _ beliefs
make a more mature and well-defined place of
British Columbia.

Being in an urban setting, the Qayqayt are tech-
nically land poor, though the results of their even-

 

tual land treaty will be financial compensation.
With this advantage, the Qayqayt will have the
option to purchase; thus, it is propitious for both
the municipality and province to approach the
Qaygqayt as potential business partners. Showing
respect in order to cultivate this relationship would
be advantageous, for they will be coming into a siz-
able sum of money.

Since 1997, Chief Rhonda Larrabee has been
lobbying for a land-base at the Woodlands site. The
Qaygayt cannot start a land claim without a land-
base. The government requires a $200,000 feasibil-
ity study before such land can be given. Chief
Larrabee charges that her band has not been
included at any phase of the Woodlands project,
and that traditional lands are being developed
without consultation. Rather than hold the lands
in trust until the completion of the feasibility
study, the site will undergo alterations that will
drastically alter its feasibility. When the minimum
land needed for a land-base, Larrabee felt that
Woodlands’ 45 acres would be sufficient but was
uncertain what would be available by the time
Onni is done with it. The government must return
the land-base; it cannot be purchased for it is part

of the Land Claim process.

Continued: Pg 27