UBC is moving toward a new agreement with Musqueam that could be a game changer for the post secondary sector. Evidence of what might be coming can be seen in several current building design processes (Gateway Building and the Laboratory of Archaeology facilities in Iona Building). The highly profiled Musqueam engagement opportunities in the Campus Vision 2050 is another indicator of what might coming. Also pointing this way are comments made by the Provost during a public event, February 1, 2023.
How would we get an agreement?
Any negotiation of such an agreement would be led, on UBC’s side, by Robin Ciceri VP External. Ciceri was a career civil service who rose to the level of deputy minister during the Gordon Campbell government (human resources and post secondary). After which Cicere moved to the NGO sector as president of the Research Universities’ Council of BC (2010). Cicere has been UBC’s VP External since 2019.
If what happens in BC’s resource sector is any indication, any agreement will be without prejudice to Musqueam asserted rights and title (irrespective of what UBC officials say in land acknowledgements). Even if the crown’s duty to consult has been delegated to UBC in relation to current land use planning, only the provincial government has the authority to recognize Musqueam rights and title through land transfers or regulatory accommodations. Given UBC is a provincial entity the government is likely closely monitoring UBC’s negotiations. It is expected the province has provided explicit instructions to UBC that limits what UBC can or can not agree to, such as disallowing land transfers or revenue sharing.
UBC and Musqueam share vested interests in extending the skytrain to campus in order to release more value from their respective land developments (Musquem with Lelam and the Jericho Lands; UBC with Stadium and Acadia neighbourhoods). Rapid transit is critical to maximizing revenue generation from these lands and to facilitate the densification wanted by UBC in the Campus Vision 2050 proposal. This shared interest could be providing the dynamic behind the new relationship agreement.
What might an agreement look like?
Last December, 2022, I asked UBC’s media relations for a statement on the importance of their relationship with Musqueam. I was working on a series of stories about UBC and Indigenous issues. I had innocently assumed they would send a kind of generic “UBC values its longstanding relation with Musqueam and looks forward to deepening our connections” or words to that effect. Instead they responded as follows:
“given the importance of our relationship with Musqueam, we recognize it’s important that the university discusses any public statement relating to our relationship with them, so we’re currently waiting for their input. We will endeavour to get back to you as soon as possible and are aware of your deadline.” UBC Media Relations, December 8, 2022.
That was essentially the last substantive comment I received from UBC Media Relations on this subject. Other options were provided, but none of those would have afforded the opportunity to publicly report on them - so I declined to accept. Subsequently, I’ve been at two different university events where UBC officials have made some fairly explicit statements about UBC’s relationship with Musqueam.
Saturday, February 4, 2023, I attended a Campus Vision 2050 community workshop in which Aslam Bulbulia (meeting facilitator) and Gerry McGeough (Director, Planning and Design) both highlighted the new relationship with Musqueam and the ongoing inclusion of Musqueam in the planning process in their opening remarks.
During the discussion, staff at several of the small discussion tables highlighted the significant role Musqueam is currently playing in the land planning process. Madeleine Zammer, Engagement Manager, explained that efforts have been made to speak with Indigenous students, staff, and members of the Centre for Critical Indigenous Studies - something that is new and potentially related to the expanded inclusion of Musqueam in the university planning process.
At the February 1, 2023, Roundtable on Decolonization, Gage Averill, UBC’s Provost and Vice-President Academic made the following statement:
“Maybe we don't know where the thing is going, but I think we will be negotiating a new settlement with a relationship agreement with Musqueam. You talked earlier, … many of us did, about how powerful that [existing] relationship [with Musqueam] has been in moving this university forward and getting it to reckon with things. We have to reckon with that. I think whatever comes out of [the new agreement] is going to be a different kind of relationship. It's no longer going to be about recognition, it's going to be about land rights and voice in the university and places in the university and then also about programs and recognition of the labor that it takes to come into a classroom or to be with research students.” UBC Roundtable on Decolonization, Feb. 1, 2023.
Taken together these recent comments and presentations by UBC staff make it pretty clear substantial change is coming in UBC’s relationship with Musqueam.