The Musqueam Indian Band and the Vancouver Airport Authority signed a 30-year “sustainability and friendship” agreement Wednesday that could see the band collect up to $300 million over the life of the deal.

The airport authority, which is a private non-profit that manages the airport, agreed to commit one per cent of annual revenue to the band. Based on 2016 revenues, the amount this year is equal to approximately $5 million. None of the funds will come from the airport improvement fee charged to airline passengers.

article continues below

Over time, with revenues projected to increase, the total financial gain for the Musqueam could reach $300 million, according to Musqueam councillor Wendy Grant-John, who was one of the band’s negotiators in reaching an agreement with the airport authority. She based the figure on an anticipated five per cent increase in revenues per year at the airport.

Musqueam band councillor Wendy Grant-John was one of the band’s negotiators who helped secure the 30-year deal between the Vancouver Airport Authority and the band. Photo Dan Toulgoet

“I don’t think there’s been a revenue-sharing agreement between an airport and a First Nations community,” Grant-John told reporters after a news conference inside a hangar at the airport, which is on the Musqueam’s traditional homelands. “It’s an amazing, amazing agreement for our community.”

While the revenue-sharing component of the deal is huge, Grant-John pointed out that Musqueam members said at a meeting Tuesday night that employment and protecting the environment were more top of mind.

The airport authority has agreed to provide apprenticeships and jobs at the airport for Musqueam people, look to contract Musqueam businesses and fund up to 10 scholarships per year worth $10,000 each. The agreement calls for the airport authority to hire a “relationship manager” from Musqueam, whose job will include exploring joint business ventures.

The agreement also spells out the importance of protecting the land and waters around Sea Island, which is directly across the river from the band’s main reserve in south Vancouver. Some of that work will include restoring and enhancing areas on the land, reducing or mitigating airplane noise and identifying and protecting historical sites of the band.

In her remarks to the audience gathered at the hangar, Grant-John shared what former Musqueam Chief Johnny told the Royal Commission on Indian Affairs in 1913. She read some of his words, which related to the way of life for Musqueam being disrupted and destroyed by “the white man.”

“One person is on my right, one person is on my left saying, ‘I have a share of your lands,”’ Grant-John said as she read Johnny’s words. “And I want those persons to let my hands go, and give me the control of my own land. I don’t want anyone to bother me.”

Grant-John, who is a former chief of the band, said the new agreement “brings life” to Johnny’s words. Her speech moved Craig Richmond, president and CEO of the airport authority, who said later the agreement will “change their lives, in terms of economic effect.”

“Where it’s going to change us is we bring in their young people and give them a path all the way from education to employment,” Richmond said. “And who knows — as I said in my speech — where it leads in the decades to come, but it’s going to lead somewhere good.”

Members of the Musqueam Indian Band performed at a ceremony Wednesday at the Vancouver International Airport that saw the Vancouver Airport Authority and the band sign a historic agreement. Photo Dan Toulgoet

Asked why a deal wasn’t reached sooner with the band, whose people have been on the lands for thousands of years, Richmond said: “It’s hard for me to go through so much history. I’ve only been the CEO here for four years coming up in July. But everybody on all sides recognized that it’s time.”

The signing of the agreement occurred on National Aboriginal Day.

“It’s one of the most emotional days I’ve had,” Grant said. “I look at our council, I look at our elders and say this is only the beginning. We are going to accomplish what all of our ancestors wanted.”

mhowell@vancourier.com

@Howellings