Community
THE W̱SÁNEĆ NATION
The Victoria International Airport is located on the homelands of the W̱SÁNEĆ People, whose relationship to the land and waters of the Saanich Peninsula has existed since time immemorial and continues today.
For thousands of years, this area was shaped by a Garry oak meadow ecosystem that supported grasslands, woodlands, and wildflower fields, including camas meadows that bloom each spring. This landscape remains deeply connected to the cultural, environmental, and spiritual traditions of the W̱SÁNEĆ People.
Victoria International Airport works in partnership with the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations to support a respectful, long-term relationship grounded in recognition of Indigenous rights, stewardship of the land, and shared interest in the airport as a regional economic generator, and future partnerships tied to its operations a.
This relationship is guided by the Friendship Agreement between the Victoria Airport Authority and the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, which provides a formal framework for collaboration, governance, and engagement. Through this Agreement, the airport is committed to advancing reconciliation in practical and meaningful ways, consistent with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #92.
Friendship Agreement with the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations
Four W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations — BOḰEĆEN (Pauquachin), W̱JOȽEȽP (Tsartlip), SȾÁUTW̱ (Tsawout), and W̱SÍ,ḴEM (Tseycum) — and the Victoria Airport Authority (VAA), operator of Victoria International Airport (YYJ), entered into a 15-year Friendship Agreement on February 4, 2026. The Agreement establishes a long-term, collaborative relationship grounded in respect (ÁTOL), cooperation (ĆȺINEUEL), and partnership (HIWESTEL).
Developed through several years of dialogue and relationship-building, the Friendship Agreement provides a practical framework for how VAA and the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations will work together on airport operations, future development, and shared priorities over time. It represents an incremental but meaningful step toward reconciliation that is forward-looking, operationally focused, and grounded in mutual respect.
What the Friendship Agreement Supports
The Friendship Agreement establishes formal structures and processes to guide collaboration between the Victoria Airport Authority and the W̱SÁNEĆ First Nations, including:
Governance and Collaboration
Clear governance tables and engagement processes to support ongoing communication, consultation and coordination related to airport operations and future development.
Culture, Heritage, and Placemaking
Protection of cultural and archaeological values, cultural awareness training, and expanded visibility of W̱SÁNEĆ culture, artwork, and SENĆOŦEN language across airport facilities and lands.
Employment, Training, and Business Opportunities
Support for employment, training, education, and business opportunities for W̱SÁNEĆ members, including strengthened Indigenous procurement practices at YYJ.
Environmental Stewardship
Collaboration on environmental stewardship initiatives that integrate W̱SÁNEĆ Traditional Knowledge into environmental planning, restoration, and sustainability efforts.
Long-Term Economic Participation
Economic contributions linked to airport revenue that support W̱SÁNEĆ community priorities over the life of the Agreement.
