Musqueam and Canada Sign Historic Agreements Recognizing Rights, Stewardship, and Fisheries

From: Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

News release

February 20, 2026 — (Vancouver, BC) — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and Musqueam Indian Band 

The Musqueam Indian Band and the Government of Canada signed three landmark agreements that recognize Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights and strengthen Musqueam’s roles in fisheries, stewardship and marine emergency management. These agreements represent a major step forward towards reconciliation and incremental implementation of Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights as affirmed under Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The agreements include:

  • šxʷq̓ʷal̕təl̕tən A Rights Recognition Agreement – Recognizes that Musqueam has Aboriginal rights including title within their traditional territory and establishes a framework for incremental implementation of rights and nation-to-nation relations with Canada.
  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Stewardship & Marine Management Agreement – Establishes bilateral collaborative working groups so that Musqueam knowledge and stewardship practices will guide shared decision-making in this incremental implementation agreement to protect and manage the waters and resources within Musqueam territory.
  • xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Fisheries Agreement – Supports Musqueam’s and Canada's shared decision-making role in collaborative fisheries management within Musqueam territory, and provides implementation funding as well as funding for access, vessels and gear through this incremental implementation agreement.

These agreements will shape the future of our partnership, guided by Musqueam’s teachings, values, and stewardship practices. These agreements reflect a true nation-to-nation partnership with Musqueam. They build on Musqueam’s long history of advancing recognition of their Aboriginal rights, and follow other recent milestones, such as the Revenue Sharing Agreement and the initialing of the Musqueam Self-Government Agreement. They honour Canada’s commitments to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and strengthen the relationship between Musqueam and Canada based on collaboration and mutual respect. These agreements exemplify reconciliation in action, as—together—we build a stronger, more resilient Canada.

Quotes

“Our government was elected to meet a generational challenge: to strengthen Canada’s economy and deliver results. Advancing reconciliation is fundamental to that mission. Reconciliation is not just words, but action—where Musqueam and Canada are working to incrementally implement Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights within their territory. These represent important step forward in our nation-to-nation relationship with Musqueam. They honour Musqueam’s Aboriginal rights while strengthening the foundation of our collaborative working relationship. Together, we are building a stronger, more united Canada.”

The Honourable Rebecca Alty
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Canada

“Our Musqueam community celebrates these historic agreements as a step forward in our path to Reconciliation. In signing these agreements, the Government of Canada is acknowledging Musqueam’s Aboriginal title and rights to our traditional territory and recognizing our expertise in both marine management and fisheries management. This is another example of how Musqueam is a leader and is taking a different approach on innovative agreements with partners like the Government of Canada, that benefit the greater community and contribute to a joint sustainable future.”

Chief Wayne Sparrow
Musqueam Indian Band

“These agreements have come together as the result of more than ten years of discussions, collaboration and negotiation and are a testament to our strong and resilient Musqueam community. Musqueam is committed to continuing to honour and implement traditional governance practices which have guided intercommunity relationships and interactions as part of implementing these agreements, charting our path forward in the future. I thank the many members of the Government of Canada who sat beside Musqueam from the beginning, and continue to work together on the implementation, as partners.”

Wendy Grant-John
Lead Negotiator, Musqueam Indian Band

“Musqueam knowledge of these waters runs deep, and this partnership means that knowledge is part of how we move forward together on stewardship and fisheries management in Musqueam territory. That's how we protect these fisheries for the generations that come after us.”

The Honourable Joanne Thompson
Minister of Fisheries

“By entering into this historic, generational agreement with Musqueam, the Canadian Coast Guard is strengthening a long term partnership. The xʷməθkʷəy̓əm Stewardship & Marine Management Agreement sets the foundation for collaboration and shared decision-making in marine safety and emergency response. Together, we are bolstering our marine emergency management capabilities to protect our waters and communities now and for generations to come.”

The Honourable David J. McGuinty
Minister of National Defence

“Indigenous stewardship has supported nature’s ability to thrive for millennia and is crucial to fighting climate change and biodiversity loss. I am inspired by the leadership of the Musqueam Indian Band and their commitment to conserving and restoring a deep relationship with the land, water and wildlife within their territory. Working together, we can protect ecosystems that safeguard species and benefit communities across the region.”

The Honourable Julie Dabrusin
Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

“Today’s announcement marks a meaningful step forward in reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and in recognizing their historic contributions to the economic development of the region and of Canada. Through this agreement, we are strengthening our partnership to advance stewardship, enhancing marine emergency management, and building a stronger Canada.”

The Honourable Steven MacKinnon
Minister of Transport and the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons

“The Musqueam people have been stewards of their traditional territory since time immemorial. It is our hope that through these agreements our partnership will grow, while fostering healthy communities and protecting this unique environment.”

Wade Grant
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature

Quick facts

  • The Musqueam Indian Band are the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm people. Their traditional territory centers around the mouth of the Fraser River and what is now the City of Vancouver and the surrounding areas. The Musqueam people have lived on these lands and waters since time immemorial and continue to practice their culture, language, and traditions today.

  • These incremental agreements are the product of many years of negotiation and advocacy, following the 2016 establishment of a reconciliation table.

  • The agreements follow other recent milestones, including the Musqueam Self-Government Agreement initialed in March 2025 and the Revenue Sharing Agreement for Vancouver International Airport signed in February 2025.

  • Musqueam’s snəw̓eyəɬ and šxʷtəhim̓ (manners and customs) are the fundamental underpinnings of Musqueam’s legal framework, the foundation of its distinctive social structure, governance, decision-making and legal system. In the implementation of these agreements between the Government of Canada and Musqueam, Musqueam is committed to continuing to honour and implement traditional governance practices which have guided intercommunity relationships and interactions. Musqueam holds firm that legal pluralism is a key component of all future paths as we work toward building external relationships and partnerships.

Associated links

Contacts

For more information, media may contact:

Alec Wilson
Press Secretary
Office of the Rebecca Alty
Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs
alec.wilson@rcaanc-cirnac.gc.ca

Media Relations
Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada
RCAANC.media.CIRNAC@sac-isc.gc.ca

Jenny Duncan
Communications Consultant
Musqueam Indian Band
Jenny@carterhales.com
604-360-3028

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2026-02-20