The B.C. government has approved the transfer of 11 hectares of Crown Land to five Nicola Valley First Nations, about a year and half after first announcing such plans.

The lands will be transferred via Spayum Holdings, a consolidated development corporation owned by the five First Nations – the Coldwater Indian Band, the Lower Nicola Indian Band, the Nooaitch Indian Band, the Shackan Indian Band, and the Upper Nicola Indian Band.

It says Spayum anticipates investing $40 million and reopen the landmark Merritt Gateway rest stop for travellers on the Coquihalla Highway, creating hundreds of permanent and temporary jobs.

“This journey of having these lands transferred to the five First Nations has been made possible by the commitment and hard work of past and present Chiefs and Councillors to realize this day. I would like to acknowledge in particular the work by former Chief of the Lower Nicola Indian Band, and our past chair of Spayum Holdings LP, Aaron Sumexheltza,” Jordan Joe, Chief of the Shackan Indian Band and a director with Spayum Holdings Limited Partnership, said in a statement.

The five First Nations sought the transfer of the Gateway 286 lands for more than two decades, and the province says the completion of the transfer affirms its commitment to support the Nicola Valley First Nations.

“Supporting the Nicola Chiefs in this important business opportunity will benefit residents and visitors to the Nicola Valley, and is a positive example of our government’s efforts to advance reconciliation with the Nicola Valley First Nations through new economic development opportunities,” said Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, said in a statement.

“This important step strengthens our government-to-government relationship with the Nicola Valley First Nations, creates job opportunities for members within their communities and shares in the prosperity of the province.”

The site was previously home to the Merritt visitor information centre which closed in January 2018.

“The City of Merritt is pleased to come together in partnership with the local Nicola Valley Indigenous communities to welcome this transfer of land at Exit 286. Many years of planning and consultation have laid the foundation for this land transfer at this prominent community entrance,” said Merritt mayor, Linda Brown.

“Our council acknowledges and respects the principles of trust, openness and reconciliation laid out in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and we are pleased to see this great example of local collaboration. We look forward to this new opportunity to work together at Exit 286 for the overall well-being of the Nicola Valley.”