The Nation's leadership voted two weeks ago to support the Burnco proposal for a sand and gravel mine on the shores of Howe Sound.

Members were not aware of this decision until it was mentioned in a story published in the Coast Reporter and The Squamish Chief.

article continues below

"We sincerely regret not informing you about Squamish Nation Council's position on the project before it came out in the media. This project has been in negotiations before the new term of Council was elected since 2010. We had a short window to make a decision due to timing of the provincial and federal process," reads a Squamish Nation notice to members published on the band's Facebook page.

Burnco is proposing a sand and gravel mine on 320 hectares the company owns on the foreshore of the McNab Valley in Howe Sound. The site is located next to the former Squamish village of Kw'ech'tenm.

Nation council will present detailed terms and conditions won through negotiations "on a confidential basis," according to the notice.

The document does say that the Burnco entered into assessments and negotiations with the Nation separate from the provincial and federal government assessment processes.

Federal and provincial decisions on the project are pending.

According to the Nation, its leadership hired "independent environmental specialists" to review the project. The company hired is not mentioned.

Through its negotiations, the Nation says Burnco will:

• enter into a legally-binding agreement regarding ways to avoid, mitigate or accommodate impacts on deer/elk, fish, and access to practice Aboriginal rights;

• maintain current habitat for deer and elk,

• ensure water levels, and quality are not affected, and fish habitat is constructed.

The band also won the right to "override specific decision-making processes on the operations of the project. This will ensure environmental standards exceed provincial and federal standards, according to the notice.

Council promised to better inform its members of proposals and decisions in the future.

A new Squamish Nation council was voted in back in December. The swearing-in ceremony for the new council has yet to take place.