Reconciliation in Action
The Woodfibre LNG Project falls within the traditional territories of the Sķwxwú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and Səl̓ ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh Nation).
The Woodfibre LNG Project is being constructed on the historical site of Swiy̓át, a Squamish Nation village, in Nexwnéwu7ts Átlḵ’a7tsem (Howe Sound), locations tied to the cultural well-being of Squamish Nation members, their ancestors, and their descendants, and to other Indigenous groups. Woodfibre LNG recognizes the importance of these areas and seeks to construct and operate the Project in a manner that is respectful of Indigenous values.
Woodfibre LNG works alongside Squamish Nation to advance shared goals of cultural and environmental preservation, together with economic growth and diversification. Woodfibre LNG is proud to have Squamish Nation as both a project partner and an environmental regulator.
Squamish Nation
Environmental Assessment Agreement
Woodfibre LNG is proud to be the first company in Canada to recognize a non-treaty Indigenous government (Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw) as a regulator on an industrial project. The Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement and Certificate, granted on October 14, 2015, identified 13 legally binding conditions that Woodfibre LNG is required to meet. We are actively working with the Squamish Nation technical and leadership teams to ensure that each of these conditions are fully met.
Our environmental and technical teams have worked collaboratively with representatives from local Indigenous communities throughout the environmental assessment process to integrate traditional knowledge and input into our environmental management plans and the design of the facility. Woodfibre LNG strives to support our Indigenous partners to define their level of participation in our Project.
Woodfibre LNG also has Impact Benefit Agreements in place with both the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations, providing a wide-range of cultural, social, employment, education and procurement benefits.
Collaborating for Sustainable Growth
Working closely with our Indigenous partners, Woodfibre LNG is looking to develop sustainability goals that enable cultural and environmental preservation alongside economic growth and diversification.
Our aim is to:
- Accommodate traditional culture and customs in the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh region or nearby project area
- Incorporate traditional knowledge into planning and development
- Seek input on baseline feasibility studies and data collection
- Support sustainable development goals through consultation and legacy projects
- Support the development of training programs both for project needs as well as for transferable skills and upgrading
Advancing Economic Reconciliation
As part of the Squamish Nation Environmental Assessment Agreement, and in alignment with our work to advancing economic reconciliation, Woodfibre LNG has committed to maximizing employment and business opportunities for Squamish Nation members, including member-owned businesses. A detailed employment and training plan is also being developed and implemented, which strives to create long-term, high-paying jobs for local Squamish Nation members. Woodfibre LNG is taking other meaningful actions to advance reconciliation, including developing gender safety programming across the entire Project, providing in-person archaeological, cultural and gender safety training for the workforce, and supporting Squamish Nation artists, cultural ambassadors and knowledge keepers.