There’s no firm timeline yet for a high-profile piece of land off the Coquihalla near Merritt to switch hands.

The province and the five bands in the Nicola Valley signed an agreement in March to transfer the former rest stop property off Exit 286 – which is currently Crown land.

Chief of the Lower Nicola Indian Band Stu Jackson:

“There’s nothing I can really say at this point for that. I did take part in a meeting where I was able to speak with three of the chiefs from the valley, that topic was brought up, and that’s something the chiefs are willing to sit down with me and talk about.”

The 25-acre piece of land is expected to eventually be redeveloped for commercial business, and a cultural centre is also expected to be included.

“This is an opportunity for the newly elected council to sit down with the incumbents and our senior administration and the other leaders within the valley,” Jackson added. “So that we can verse ourselves on that piece of land.

The popular visitor centre off of Exit 286 of the Coquihalla closed its doors in January 2018.

The First Nations signed on to the protocol include the Lower Nicola Indian Band, Upper Nicola Band, Coldwater Indian Band, Shackan Indian Band, and Nooaitch Indian Band.