A powerful homecoming took place May 8, 2026 at Sen̓áḵw as the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) celebrated the Blessing Ceremony for tl’eltl’élnup, the first completed residential tower in the Nation‑led development in Vancouver. More than a century after Squamish families were forcibly removed from their ancestral village, the Nation gathered with Elders, leaders, partners, and invited guests to honour a return to a place of profound cultural, historical, and spiritual meaning.

In his remarks, Sxwíxwtn (Chairperson Wilson Williams) underscored the emotional weight and generational importance of the day: “The strength and perseverance of our people have brought us here. The next generations—the seven ahead—this is their economic future. I hope that family, friends and guests take away not only what they’ve heard, but what they feel. This is the start of something beautiful. That is the definition of Sen̓áḵw.”

Elders and Knowledge Keepers led a traditional cedar brushing ceremony, using Xápáyay—the Tree of Life—to cleanse and protect the building and set intentions for all who will live there. This grounding in ancestral practice reinforces the responsibility to carry the moment forward for future generations.

Tower 1, tl’eltl’élnup, includes 333 purpose‑built rental homes, with residents expected to begin moving in early June. Yeltsíliya (Brandi Halls), EVP at Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation, reflected on the significance of a Nation leading development on its own lands, noting that Sen̓áḵw “has literally shown the world what Indigenous procurement can build.”

Phase One will deliver 1,409 rental homes—including more than 280 affordable units—with priority access for Squamish Nation members and Indigenous Peoples. Once complete, Sen̓áḵw will add more than 6,000 rental homes to the city, including approximately 1,200 below‑market units, marking one of the most substantial contributions to Vancouver’s housing supply in decades.

Photo courtesy of: Nch’ḵay̓ Development Corporation.