The acquisition of the Bridal Falls Golf Course by Cheam First Nation on Feb. 12 marks 鈥渁 significant milestone,鈥� in the expansion of the nation鈥檚 land base.
Cheam Chief Darwin Douglas said they鈥檝e been working on a strategic expansion to fuel economic development.
鈥淥ur focus is not only on economic prosperity but also on safeguarding our land and heritage,鈥� Douglas said in a release Feb. 28. 鈥淭his acquisition allows us to create intergenerational wealth for Cheam people and future generations, ensuring a sustainable and culturally vibrant legacy.鈥�
Cheam aims to build businesses that 鈥渁lign with its core values鈥� of environmental stewardship and cultural preservation.
A purchase offer was made for the golf course last year by the former Cheam leadership, but the sale did not go through.
Once Douglas was sworn in as the newly elected chief on Feb. 5, he started working on the sale as one of his first projects. They completed the acquisition process for the golf course and the land this month, and the sale closed Feb. 12.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a crucial step towards realizing Cheam鈥檚 vision for Indigenous cultural eco-tourism initiatives,鈥� he said.
One of those initiatives is their ongoing partnership with the Cascade Skyline Gondola Project, which is pending regulatory approvals.
These newly acquired lands will play a pivotal role in raising awareness of Cheam and St贸:l艒 history and culture, Chief Douglas underlined, showcasing the natural beauty of the region while sharing the rich tapestry of Indigenous traditions.
鈥淐heam First Nation invites the community and stakeholders to join them on their transformative journey toward economic empowerment, environmental sustainability, and cultural preservation.鈥�
As part of the Pel贸lxw people, Xwch铆y貌:m (Cheam) is a major community within the broader S鈥櫭砽h Nation. The Xwch铆y貌:m have lived in S鈥櫭砽h T茅m茅xw for thousands of years. They have never ceded or surrendered title to their lands, rights to their resources, or authority to make decisions within their territory.
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