How an Indigenous-led development is forcing Vancouver to face tough questions on reconciliation

City Space

Across Canada, more and more First Nations are turning to real estate and housing development as money makers, shaping the future of Canadian cities. This is especially visible in Vancouver with projects like Sen̓áḵw, a development by the Squamish Nation that is set to become one of Canada’s densest neighbourhoods. It’s a project that carries a lot of promise, specifically as a symbol of Indigenous urban development and reconciliation in action. But Sen̓áḵw also comes with its share of controversy, as a development that isn't subject to Vancouver zoning laws because it’s on Squamish land. In this episode, we look at how developments like Sen̓áḵw are forcing municipalities across the country to face some tough questions, like how to square Indigenous sovereignty with city planning and what reconciliation looks like at the local level.