Indigenous Relationships

Indigenous Relationships

KWL honours the land and its peoples. We acknowledge that our head office is located on the unceded territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and Sel̓íl̓witulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations, who have been stewards of this place since time immemorial. We are grateful to live, work and play on these lands and waters.

We deeply value our many 45+ year relationships developed from over 600 projects with over 60 distinct First Nations throughout BC and western Canada. We have become trusted advisors by working alongside communities to identify ways to improve quality of life, and protect the natural environment and culturally significant places, while developing solutions that reflect each community’s culture, traditions, and values.

We approach partnerships with Indigenous communities from a place of mutual respect and see these relationships to further support meaningful collaboration, strengthen connections, and improve capacity building. In 2019, KWL and Sekw’el’was (Cayoose Creek Indian Band) partnered to plan, develop and deliver infrastructure and capital projects in the Sekw’el’was Territory (near Lillooet). The partnership also includes Cayoose Creek Development Corp., the business arm of Sekw’el’was. Cayoose Creek Development Corporation comprises Antares Construction LLP and Splitrock Environmental Sekw’el’was LLP.

Whether planning, designing or building, we understand that communities are much more than the buildings, utilities and infrastructure that serve them. Community assets support gathering places and enhance them. We seek to co-create community-led, decolonizing solutions guided by local knowledge holders and values, protocols, traditions and preferences. We understand that honouring the land means careful planning for how to be in right relationship with the lands and waters.