Squamish Nation celebrates lacrosse legacy with new North Vancouver sports facility

The new Squamish Nation lacrosse box will officially open July 3.

The Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) has unveiled a new facility in North Vancouver that fosters sportsmanship, community and connection all under one roof.

The new building, designed to replace the aging lacrosse box torn down in 2021, has all the bells and whistles of a thriving, multipurpose community centre. Complete with concrete floors and floor-to-ceiling glass panelling, the large-scale building will house sports games, local events, movies and art, music and yoga classes.

Yet lacrosse, a sport that holds deep cultural significance for the Squamish Nation and is rooted in the history and traditions of its people, will remain at the building’s heart.

“We really want to honor the past of our people, we’re going to hold up the game of lacrosse and hold everyone up so everyone feels that pride, that legacy,” says Squamish Nation Coun. Sxwíxwtn (Wilson Williams).

“Lacrosse connects us to who we are.”

Crafted in collaboration with Squamish Nation artists, there are design elements both within and around the new building that pay homage to First Nations culture. A basketball court sits out front with the nation’s logo in its centre, while its roof is designed to represent a woven blanket worn in 1906 by the influential leader Chief Joe Capilano. Williams says the blanket design is in place to wrap around and protect the Squamish people.

“It’s very powerful,” he says.

“When we do ceremonies, we always talk about our connection, and to cover our people, to protect them and hold them up in gratitude and empowerment. It’s quite something of our story.”

The building was unveiled via a soft launch to the Squamish community on Friday, with an event that saw members unite over drumming and singing sessions, food from Indigenous restaurant Salmon n’ Bannock, and family activities. Lacrosse greats were in attendance, taking to the field alongside members young and old in friendly tournaments.

Its official launch is set for July 3, with Friday’s event serving as an example of what the atmosphere at the facility will feel like once that grand opening is underway.

“This day’s happenings set the tone of what the facility will mean to the community,” said Williams.

Built directly across from the Chief Joe Mathias Centre, and sitting alongside the Language Nest and the Capilano Little Ones School, the facility marks a new addition to the hub of the community that Williams hopes to grow further over the coming years.

A thriving new community centre fits into the nation’s comprehensive plan to bring its members home, and follows the build of a new 95-unit facility – opened up at the site of the former lacrosse box and housing between 300 and 400 people – in the spring of last year.