Squamish Nation

Squamish Nation, Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw, is the First Nations government of the Squamish people. Squamish Nation is composed of 26 First Nations reserves located around the Capilano River, Mosquito Creek, and Seymour River on the north shore of Burrard Inlet in North Vancouver, British Columbia, and along the Squamish River, and in Gibsons and Port Mellon in the Howe Sound. They also jointly own private land holdings with neighbouring First Nations like the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Lil’wat.

The Squamish Nation government comprises an elected council, which includes the Council Chairperson, seven elected Councillors, and an elected Band Manager. The Council hires, oversees and provides direction to the Chief Administrative Officer who oversees the administrative arm of Squamish Nation. It is based primarily in West Vancouver, North Vancouver, and Squamish, British Columbia. Its government is responsible for managing assets and revenues generated by Squamish Nation, providing several programs and services to the Squamish people, and representing the Squamish people in intergovernmental relations with other Canadian governments and industries that operate within its territory.

Squamish Nation was formed in July 1923 when several separate First Nations (at the time called Indian Bands) were amalgamated under Section 17 of the Indian Act. All of the First Nations that amalgamated were communities largely considered and identified as Squamish People but resided on different First Nation reserve lands throughout the Squamish Valley, Burrard Inlet, and False Creek of Vancouver.

Two years of community meetings with held, with eventually a super-majority of eligible voters for the various First Nations voting to petition the Federal Department responsible for Indians to amalgamate the several First Nations into a single entity they called Squamish Nation. Their petition called for a Council to represent the newly created Squamish Nation, all lands joined as Squamish Nation lands, and all trust accounts to be put into a single trust account. Approximately CA$167,740 (equivalent to $2,993,794 in 2025) was consolidated into a single trust account for the newly formed Squamish Nation.

Prior to British Columbia's hosting of the 2010 Olympic Games, Squamish Nation engaged in negotiations with the Provincial Government of British Columbia and Lil'wat First Nation. Numerous agreements were signed prior to and following the announcement of the host city for the Games, regarding issues such as Squamish land to be used for hosting the Games. Issues regarding the leasing of land, Nation-owned or operated businesses and other ventures currently account for much of the Squamish Nation's band council government business. Squamish Nation recently announced the purchase of a Tree Farm License (License 38), which covers the Elaho Valley near Squamish, British Columbia.

Squamish Nation has close ties with Tsleil-Waututh Nation, who reside further east on Burrard Inlet and to the Musqueam who reside on the southern edge of the city of Vancouver.

Historical legal challenge: Starting in 1977, Squamish Nation fought to reclaim Sen̓áḵw (Kitsilano Reserve No. 6) in Vancouver. They argued that the 1913 forced sale under the Indian Act was illegal by a breach of Canada's fiduciary duties. This led to court rulings and a landmark settlement returning ~11.7 acres of this prime downtown land️.

The elected councillors make up the executive political body of this government. They operate on a four-year term with elections occurring around in December. They also elect a band manager. The most recent Council was elected September 28, 2025.