The First Nations Bank of Canada is financing an Indigenous-led mixed-use development project in Whistler, B.C.

The Lil’wat Business Group’s Tseqwtsúqum (pronounced Chek-choo-koom) project is located in the resort community’s Function Junction area. The development combines conventional commercial spaces and workforce housing.

FNBC is providing the financing under a partnership with the Canadian Infrastructure Bank’s Indigenous Land Development program. According to CIB, the financing is the largest in FNBC’s history.

But the amount of the financing was not disclosed.

“This kind of Indigenous-led development is exactly what economic reconciliation looks like, empowering [First] Nations to lead, build, and thrive on their own terms,” said FNBC President and CEO Bill Lomax.

FNBC leads the Indigenous Land Development Program, which aims to help remove long-standing barriers to Indigenous land development projects. The program provides comprehensive financing for both infrastructure and buildings, enabling Indigenous groups to access capital at lower costs with greater certainty.

“This project is a major milestone for the Líl’wat Nation, reflecting our growth and our capacity to lead meaningful economic development on our traditional territory,” said Rosemary Stager, CEO of LBG. “Tseqwtsúqum is the largest project to date for LBG and exemplifies our commitment to building a strong, self-sustaining future that honours our cultural values.

“This is more than a financial transaction. It’s a step toward reconciliation, opportunity, and self determination.”

Located in Mount Currie, B.C., about 35 kilometres from Whistler, the Lil’wat Business Group is the economic-development arm of the Lil’Wat Nation. The group consists of limited partnerships in the retail, forestry, and construction sectors. In addition, LBG operates both capital-asset and management-services divisions. 

Photo: Lil’wat Business Group