Esquimalt and Songhees nations buy historic waterfront land from BC Hydro
CTV
Members of the Esquimalt and Songhees First Nations are celebrating now that 4.5 hectares of prime real estate in Victoria is back in the hands of the Lekwungen people.
At a ceremony Tuesday afternoon, the chiefs of the Songhees and Esquimalt nations signed documents officially completing the purchase of the land in Rock Bay from BC Hydro.
"I want to make it very clear, we purchased this land," said Songhees Nation Chief Ron Sam.
"It was not returned to the nations. The nations bought it," he said.
For about 100 years until the 1960s, the plot of land along Government Street was used as coal plant.
BC Hydro inherited the land from its predecessors and paid about $128 million to fix up and remediate the property.
During that construction period, which began around 2011, a deal was struck for the two First Nations to purchase back the land from the power company.
The land is located on Government Street in the Rock Bay area of Victoria. (CTV News)
"I'm so excited and very enthusiastic about this whole process," said Esquimalt Nation Chief Rob Thomas on Tuesday.
