The Musqueam are “still keeping a vigil” at the Marpole midden site but hopes are rising for a peaceful solution through government cash to save their ancestors.
The B.C. government has finally issued a letter promising cash to help “expedite” a deal between the Musqueam and a would-be condo developer.
Only $4.8 million has been offered so far but other cash compensations will also be paid by the B.C. government to the Musqueam.
The Province has obtained a copy of the June 13 letter from B.C. Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation Minister Mary Polak to Musqueam Chief Ernie Campbell, offering cash instead of a land swap so the band can compensate the owner or developer.
“This time, the government is saying they will just give us the cash and we’ll use the cash to buy the development property, instead of a complicated land swap,” said Cecelia Point, a Musqueam leader who spoke from the protest site.
“We’re obviously pleased. We’ll be meeting with the developer and there will be discussions about suitable compensation.”
Polak told The Province Thursday that she anticipates that the “accelerated payments to the Musqueam” will help hurry the pace of a settlement between the band and the developer.
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Polak emphasized that the payments to the Musqueam are part of previously-promised compensation for megaprojects such as the Evergreen Line and the Gateway project, and not a special fund to allow the band to buy the controversial site.
So far, $4.8 million has been offered to the Musqueam in compensation for one of three major megaprojects either underway, planned or already completed.
The total cash on offer is believed to be between $10 and $20 million, but the Musqueam have indicated they will argue the developer should have done his due diligence and concluded condos would never be tolerated on the historic site.
“We do believe there will be sufficient cash flow that an accommodation” to the developer can be made, said Polak.
Mediator Geoff Freer has offered to get involved again in the negotiations between the Musqueam and the developer Century Holdings, said Polak, after booking out last week when little progress had been made on talks.
Polak’s letter to the Musqueam noted the cash is “an accommodation for the Musqueam’s aboriginal interest.”
The letter also offers to provide to the Musqueam ” independent real estate mediation during the negotiations,” if required.
Bob Ransford, a spokesman for Gary and Fran Hackett, the longtime owners of the disputed property, and for Century Holdings, said he has not seen Polak’s letter but is hopeful meetings with Musqueam now will occur.
Ransford emphasized that contract law stipulates that everyone who bought into the proposed 108-unit development will be duly compensated.
He said the value of the condo development — if built, sold and occupied — would be about $40 million, but that is the ultimate rather than actual value.
“I don’t know how the developer ever thought they could put condos on the historical Marpole midden,” said Point. “The city wouldn’t even let the Fraser Arms Hotel owner put a sign into the ground because it might damage a valuable archaeological resource.”
Musqueam Coun. Wade Grant said the band is cautiously optimistic that negotiations for the band to buy the land and end the occupation now can start.
The Musqueam began occupying the site, near the Arthur Laing bridge in Marpole, when an archaeologist hired by the developer swiftly turned up human remains. The midden has produced priceless artifacts as well as human remains in the past, and is believed to be at least 4,500 years old.
“We’re pleased the provincial government is willing to expedite the process to give Musqueam the wherewithal to negotiate compensation with the developer,” said Grant.
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