The Kwantlen First Nation, through the Seyem’ Qwantlen Business Group, has partnered with the Township of Langley to submit a joint application for the Infrastructure Canada Smart Cities Challenge, a nationwide competition that encourages cities and indigenous communities to share their best ideas to improve the lives of their residents through innovation, data and connected technology.
The winning application will receive a $10 million prize to go towards implementing the proposed projects.
Over the next six weeks, they are seeking public input and ideas on ways that technology can be used to connect our past to the future, particularly as it relates to education on local indigenous language, history, traditions and culture.
“It has always been important for us to share our history and ongoing connection to our lands and resources in the community and beyond,” said said Seyem’ Qwantlen Business Group President and Kwantlen First Nation Councillor Tumia Knott in a press release.
“We continue to make efforts to educate and share our connections, values and traditions in new and engaging ways. The Smart Cities Challenge represents the use of technology as a vehicle to teach, to engage existing and new audiences about Kwantlen’s culture and history, as well as other local indigenous communities.
“The project represents a continuation of our valued and growing working relationship with the Township of Langley.”
As one of Kwantlen First Nation’s reserve lands is immediately adjacent to Fort Langley, the application will focus specifically on those two communities. The intention, however, is to come up with a project that can be expanded to other areas of the Township in the future.
They also hope to create a project that will complement the proposed Fort Langley Project that was unveiled last month.
READ MORE: Township, Kwantlen First Nation unveil new Fort Langley concepts
“Smart Cities Challenge is a positive and exciting way to bring our two communities together towards common goals,” said Township Mayor Jack Froese in a press release.
“New technologies will help us reconcile the past, bring stories to life, and establish a mutually sustainable future for generations to come. The timing is right, and Fort Langley, as the birthplace of British Columbia, is the right community to be setting an example for all of Canada.”
For more info and to submit your ideas, visit tol.ca/smartcities.
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