b'WEST COAST DEVELOPMENTLel : A New Home By Matthew BradfordH o w t h e M u s q u e a m I n d i a n B a n d i s t r a n s f o r m i n g s o m e o f i t s h i s t o r i c l a n d i n t o a s t a b l e , l o n g - t e r m r e v e n u e s o u r c eM odernliving,ancientThe agreement included a covenant notMCCs goal for the returned land was to values.Sogoestheto seek reserve status for Block F, nowunlock its full potential, especially the designphilosophylel , and the land was transferred as feeportion designated for the lelproject. behind the Musqueamsimple land, with full ownership going toWhen we got this land back, it was essen-IndianBandsresiden- the Band. (Within the same agreementtially a third and fourth generation forest tial development taking root betweenthe province encouraged the amalga- that wasnt returning a dime to the band, Vancouvers Pacific Spirit Park and themation of Block K with the main reserverecalls Avis. We recognized there was University of British Columbiaa massive,and the Band has since gained reservethis untapped value, so we started ambitious project aptly named lel .status for this section.)the process of developing it as a way to lelis the Musqueam word for home, which is what we want this to be, both for the Musqueam people and those that choose to live within it, says Doug Avis, vice president of real estate with the Musqueam Capital Corporation (MCC), the bands economic development arm. Led by MCC, the project represents one of the largest, most enterprising First Nations developments in B.C., if not the country. Once completed, it will supply 1.25 million square feet of much-needed housing and rentals spread across 21.44 acres. The aim is to establish a long-term revenue source for the Musqueam people, a vision that began in 2008 when the B.C. government returned the land (earlier part of B.C.s University Endowment Lands known as Block F) to the band within the framework of Canadas recon-ciliation process. The land deal was part of a larger agreement that also saw the transfer of the University Golf Course (under the condition it continue to be run as a golf course until 2083), land in Richmond (River Rock Casino loca-tion), and another parcel, called Block K, neighbouring the main reserve.The Aboriginal BUSINESS REPORT15'