The first tower is blessed with cedar during an opening event in May. Photo: Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
This article has been co-published withThe Narwhal, as part of their 2026 Indigenous journalism fellowship.
On an overcast day in May, hundreds of people are gathered in Sen̓áḵw, an ancestral Sḵwx̱wú7mesh village, to celebrate the first completed tower among what will be one of the largest housing developments in Kitsilano’s history.
The first tower, called tl’eltl’élnup (real home) is ceremonially brushed with cedar as guests — many of them Squamish Nation members — look on with pride.
With Squamish songs and drummers, eagles flying overhead and people of all ages in attendance – the blessing ceremony carried laughter and emotion throughout.
“Very historic day for our Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw people, we’re breathing life back into our village here in Sen̓áḵw,” Wilson Williams said.
Williams is the Council Chairperson for the Squamish Nation, and said that after being removed from the ancestral village for more than 100 years, the blessing ceremonies are “the beginning of something beautiful.”
Squamish people gather in laughter and celebration at the Sen̓áḵw blessing ceremony, a long awaited day for many members of the nation. Photo: Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
Squamish Nation members and invited guests gather for a blessing ceremony hosted on May 8, celebrating the opening of the first residential tower on June 1st. Photo: Santana Dreaver
Sen̓áḵw has made headlines across the country as one of the greenest urban developments in “Canada,” and receiving the largest investment from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation in history.
In the midst of “Canada’s” housing crisis, Sen̓áḵw is set to provide 6,000 homes in “Vancouver.” And in one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in one of North America’s most expensive cities, 1,200 will be delivered under an affordable model.
None of it would have been possible without fighting in court for 25 years. The village site was won back in a 2003 court case — a victory won by Elders from the nation, and renowned leaders such as Chief Joe Mathias.
“In 1913 our people got put on a barge and pushed into the ocean, our homes were burned as they were going off into the ocean. So it’s been a long battle,” Jacob Lewis said, seated on a cedar bench in the shape of a canoe.
Lewis is Squamish and has been involved with the Sen̓áḵw development since its inception in 2019, when the nation voted in favour to build. He is currently the director of community development with Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation, a partner in the project.
Squamish Nation drummers at the Sen̓áḵw blessing ceremony for the first tower on May 8. The drum group sang as Squamish Youth brushed the tower with cedar boughs. Photo: Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
“Super excited today, it’s been a long time coming,” he said. “There’s been so much pride, so much honour, so much appreciation and gratitude for our ancestors, for our past leadership and all those people that helped get us here today for the blessing ceremony.”
Beyond making history with the development size and investment, what makes the development special to many is the beauty of the architecture, emphasis on Squamish artwork and environmental considerations taken in the build.
Three towers come into view from the Burrard Street Bridge, trigon and crescent shapes decorating the buildings.
Coast Salish designs are visible in the concrete, with Squamish language set to be visible throughout the properties upon completion — there is no mistaking that this is a Squamish village.
The tower is the first of 11 residential towers, with rental priority going to Squamish people, and then Indigenous people, before rentals open to the general public – implemented through an Indigenous participation plan.
The development will be surrounded by a village with amenities including a pool, sauna, cold plunge and more.
Sen̓áḵw development centres environmental considerations
While the physical construction of Sen̓áḵw is releasing carbon into the environment, the operation of the buildings will emit almost no greenhouse gases from the day residents move in, Jennifer Podmore Russell said.
“It was really important that we bring every environmental standard that we could into this building, as quickly as we could,” she said. Russell is the Chief Development Officer with Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation.
Elders from the Squamish Nation had reserved seating to witness the ceremony up close. Photo: Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation
Through an investment from Creative Energy, a “Vancouver”-based green energy supplier, Sen̓áḵw is one of the only housing developments of its size that will operate at net-zero emissions in the world.
Residential towers are designed to be heated and cooled by converted wasted thermal energy, captured from a Metro Vancouver waste line.
“With a capacity of approximately 4,000 tons, it’s one of the largest cooling towers in the Lower Mainland, efficiently serving the entire Sen̓áḵw development,” the Creative Energy website reads.
Just two levels of parking are being offered across each tower, reducing carbon emissions and encouraging less vehicle use.
A number of different partnerships with transportation providers in the area have been established, including Uber, Evo car share, Mobi rental bikes and False Creek Ferries, so that residents can “be able to navigate their life without the burden of a car,” Russell said.
‘I am excited to live in a brand-new building’
The first residents are set to move into Sen̓áḵw on June 1st, with the next tower set to open in September. It’s a move that some residents have long awaited, including Cody Bugler.
“I’m moving into a one-bedroom suite, 585 sq. feet, market rate. The size and price is comparable to what I’m paying now in a much older building in the West End, with much less exciting amenities.”
Squamish Nation’s Seńáḵw development is seen at sunset from the Burrard Bridge in ‘Vancouver.’ Photos by David P. Ball
Bugler is Plains Cree from Red Pheasant First Nation in Saskatchewan, and has lived in the area for years. He uses public transportation to access his job at the University of British Columbia as an Indigenous Engagement Leader.
“I’ve been putting off moving for some time, waiting for these buildings to be complete, so it’s exciting to finally see it all come to fruition,” he said.
Reflecting on the country’s housing shortage, Lewis said that “it feels amazing” being able to host Indigenous people who find themselves living in “Vancouver.”
As for building at this scale, Squamish cultural values helped guide the process. Providing high-density housing is solving one of the city’s largest problems, welcomes members of the nation back to the territory, while ensuring that environmental impact is as minimal as possible.
“People were saying ‘shouldn’t they be building something that’s more sustainable?’ Expecting us to build longhouses,” Lewis said, addressing negative feedback from the surrounding neighbourhood.
“We’re doing it the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh way, and that’s what we’re gonna focus on,” he said.
The post Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation opens first tower in ‘Vancouver’ village site, Sen̓áḵw appeared first on Indiginews.
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