Snuneymuxw First Nation is awaiting the arrival of nearly $50 million from Canada later this year.

Snuneymuxw has created the Thlap’qwum Community Settlement Trust to administer funds that will come from 98.1% of Snuneymuxw votes saying ‘Yes’ to the largest specific land claim in BC history that involved the 79-acre Thlap’qwum lands near downtown Nanaimo.

Once the money arrives, about $10,000 will be distributed to each member with children’s money held in trust, earning interest, until they turn 19.

Community trustees have been named and will begin training soon so they can fulfill their role as trustees of the funds, developing policies that will guide both them and the membership.

The trustees include:

• Keith Atkinson is a member of Snuneymuxw, a registered professional forester and CEO of the First Nations Forestry Council.
• Sandra Good is a long-time councillor, probably best know for helping create and run innovative programs at Snuneymuxw’s health centre.
• Dave Mannix spent the last eight years as executive director at Coast Opportunity Funds and was Snuneymuxw’s economic development officer for 12 years.
• Captain Robert D. Nelson is a Snuneymuxw member who worked for BC Ferries from Haida Gwaii to Swartz Bay. He has a maritime studies degree and an MBA.
• Margaret White has worked for 28 years in various roles and served a term on Snuneymuxw council. She currently works for the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group and Hul’qumi‘num Fisheries Limited Partnership.
• Don Woods is an administrative trustee with Toronto Dominion Securities.