VANCOUVER – The Musqueam Indian Band has signed an agreement with the federal government to share ground lease revenue from the Vancouver International Airport.
The specifics of the agreement are being kept confidential but Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Gary Anandasangaree told a signing ceremony Monday that it’s the first revenue-sharing deal involving major federal government infrastructure.
“This marks a serious milestone in our journey together. Essentially, your rights to self determination, your rights over your traditional territories, are being restored in an incremental way, I must admit, but in a very important way,” he said.
“It means a stronger partnership between Canada and Musqueam, contributing to economic equality and advancing economic reconciliation.”
Chief Wayne Sparrow said in a statement that the deal is an incremental measure that “will undoubtedly provide significant and real benefits to our community over the years to come.”
“The Musqueam people have collectively held rights, including title, within our territory since time immemorial, and our ancestors have worked tirelessly to have those rights recognized and protected,” he said.
“By signing this landmark agreement, Musqueam and the Crown are taking a significant step toward a renewed relationship that recognizes our unique relationship to our territory.”
Vancouver International Airport, located on Musqueam traditional territory, operates under a long-term ground lease with the federal government that is paid by the Vancouver Airport Authority based on a portion of its revenue.
The authority’s 2023 financial statements list the cost of the ground lease at $69 million.
Anandasangaree said the revenue-sharing agreement is part of a broader rights-recognition agreement that is being worked on with the Musqueam.
“When there’s an asset that is such an overwhelming presence, and that has a steady source of revenue for the federal government, it is only fair, and it’s only appropriate, that there is an agreement that enables those whose traditional territory that this is situated (on) to be able to share in that revenue,” he said.
“I think it’s a very basic principle, but a principle that we haven’t often understood or even implemented.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 24, 2025.
