Chief Gibby Jacob of the Squamish Nation denied the validity of a recent article in the Vancouver-based Province newspaper that quoted a confidential draft document which apparently was drafted by the provincial government. The article said $5 to $10 million was being put aside to deal with Squamish and Lil’wat issues. The sum was to be matched by the federal government.
“All we have talked about is getting the kinds of benefits for our membership that others will get for the long term use of their descendants” he told Pique News Magazine. “There is no difference”.
The article was also news to Lyle Leo, business development director for the Mount Currie Nation who said, “we haven’t had any discussions about setting aside $5 to $10 million and I would tell anyone that if a proponent is coming into our territory and looking to generate $10 billion post Games then I would be an ignorant man to settle for $5 million. So whatever this package was that the Province got hold of it is so preliminary that it is not worth the paper it is printed on”.
Instead, the Squamish and Lil’wat First nations are negotiating with the provincial government and the 2010 Bid Corporation to get the same types of opportunities for participation in the Winter Olympic Games as they see other communities being offered, reports Pique.
If Vancouver hosts the 2010 Winter Olympic Games, it will get millions of dollars in new venues and perhaps billions in economic spin-offs.
Jacob and Leo wouldn’t discuss details of their discussions with the Bid Corporation and the government, but they did say that housing and post Games revenue sources were being looked at as part of a compensation and benefits package for use of the territory.
Jacob was upset that Whistler’s First Nations cultural centre was included as part of the Olympic discussion in the draft document.
The Squamish and Lil’wat Nations both claim territory in the Callaghan Valley, the proposed site of the Nordic event centre for the 2010 Games.
