ChinookX and Leq’á:mel Development Corp to pursue Indigenous innovation district near Mission, BC

For immediate release: 

ChinookX is pleased to announce a Memorandum-of-Understanding (MOU) with Leq’á:mel Development Corporation. This is an exciting first step towards a promising partnership and the potential development of an Indigenous innovation district in Leq’á:mel Nation. 

Located 90 kilometres east of Vancouver, Leq’á:mel is a growing nation of 400+ members. Meaning “the level place where people meet,” Leq’á:mel has a rich history as one of the most popular trading stops in Stó:lō territory. The proposed Leq’á:mel Innovation District would deploy a data centre and supplementary technologies. 

“The data centre is like the brain of the new economy. With machine learning and AI, the more data you have about your industrial or commercial developments, the smarter, more sustainable and more green those developments will be,” says Robin Billy of the Secwepemc Nation, co-founder and director of business development at ChinookX. 

Should the project proceed, the Leq’á:mel Innovation District would serve as a hub of local innovation with the possibility of jobs and skills training in cleantech industries, bringing social and economic benefits to Leq’á:mel members. 

“We look forward to working with the team at Leq’á:mel Development Corporation in a good way, and exploring how Leq’á:mel members can benefit from opportunities created by these exciting emerging technologies,” says Billy. 

The two parties will work together towards a Definitive Agreement over the next year.