A ground breaking day for the Snuneymuxw first nation after they ratify a nearly $50 million settlement with the Federal government, a piece of land in downtown Nanaimo.
The settlement is compensation for a 32-hectare piece of land taken from the First Nation in the 1880s. The issue was first raised in the 1980's and following historical research and legal analysis, the federal government agreed in 2003 to begin negotiations for a settlement.
The agreement will also give the First Nation the right to request a replacement parcel of land, which could potentially include part of a former military camp in Nanaimo.
Money from the settlement will go into a trust that will create economic opportunities for the Snuneymuxw First Nation both immediately and into the future.