Musqueam to protest at Marpole Midden to mark 100 days vigil at ancient site

VANCOUVER – A planned protest over the so-called Marpole midden by the Musqueam First Nation will go ahead, despite assurances from B.C.’s aboriginals relations minister that a cash-for-land deal is close.

Mary Polak says the money offered to the Musqueam First Nation for three pieces of land should be more than enough for the band to purchase the midden land from the owner who wants to build condos on the property.

Her announcement comes on the same day that the Musqueam band announced its members will march at the site on Friday to mark 100 days since they’ve stood vigil on the property.

The First Nation began protesting against the construction after human remains were unearthed at the site on Vancouver’s Southwest Marine Drive earlier this year.

A band spokeswoman says they are considering the cash offer, but they will continue to protest because they want construction work to stop.

Part of the midden is a national historic site and contains the remains of a winter village believed to be about 3,000 years old.