Image: Fraser River Lodge / Cheam First Nation announced Tuesday (Aug. 20) it has finalized the purchase of the Fraser River Lodge in Agassiz, an acquisition valued at $18.1 million.

By Mike Vanden Bosch

Cheam First Nation

Cheam First Nation purchases Agassiz fishing lodge

Aug 20, 2024 | 5:33 PM

CHILLIWACK — Cheam First Nation announced Tuesday (Aug. 20) it has finalized the purchase of the Fraser River Lodge in Agassiz, an acquisition valued at $18.1 million.

In a news release, the First Nation band says the transaction represents the acquisition of a world-class tourism lodge and successful business located fairly close to Cheam First Nation reserve lands. This new property is also just one mile upriver from their Cheam Fishing Village and Campground.

Cheam FN characterized the acquisition as an example of its ongoing efforts to rebuild their community and increase the much-needed land base for their future. Cheam says is taking matters into their own hands to create a better world for their people, envisioning a sustainable, prosperous future in eco-cultural tourism, eco-system-based agriculture, sustainable land development, and building world-class holistic health systems for their people and all neighbours in the region.

Cheam has also recently confirmed that it purchased two parcels of farmland on the North side of the Fraser River near their reserve lands. These lands combined with the agricultural lands Cheam already has will establish a base for an ecosystem-based farming initiative that Cheam started this year. These acquisitions have occurred without any support from the provincial or federal government, or outside funding. Cheam has used its own source revenues and worked with banking partners to secure the necessary funds to do what it considers momentous work.

“Our people, our land and our culture are the most important assets in our world,” said Cheam First Nation Chief Darwin Douglas. “Many of our elders and our people have been doing work to heal from intergenerational traumas, and to rebuild themselves into healthy strong members of our community. We have more work to do in this regard but it’s happening. Our land and environment have also faced traumas from colonialism and the over-harvesting of many resources. We want to find ways to protect our land and environment and to help it heal so that future generations of our people, all British Columbians and Canadians can have a sustainable future in this beautiful land. We see tourism and the other initiatives that we are undertaking as a way to facilitate this.”

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Chief Douglas says the negotiation process to acquire the Fraser River Lodge was done between Cheam and its longstanding neighbour, the previous owner, with the utmost integrity.

“We are forever grateful to him and his family for building this amazing business and working with us to transition the land and business into our hands to help support our people’s future,” Chief Douglas said. “We look forward to collaborating with the existing team at Fraser River Lodge to ensure a smooth transition while integrating into the long-term vision. This is what true reconciliation looks like, people working together.”

Cheam says it is also working diligently on another eco-cultural tourism project within their territory, patiently waiting for the B.C. government to provide clarity regarding the approval of the Cascade Skyline sightseeing gondola, an estimated $70 million capital project set that, if approved, will be a major tourism attraction in the Eastern Fraser Valley. As co-owners, Cheam and the Pelólxw Tribe say they have asked for the province’s cooperation in approving this long-delayed project as soon as possible, and without further delay.