The first phase for Chawathil First Nation's 31-unit housing project has been approved by BC Housing.
"I am very excited, and I know our community is excited about being able to bring members home," said Chawathil Coun. Aaron Pete. "I think a housing project like this brings a lot of hope for people who have been watching this housing crisis play out. And who have been feeling like there hasn't been sufficient action.
"I think this is proof that when you listen to the community and when you work with stakeholders, like the BC government and BC Housing, great things can be accomplished and hard problems can be solved."
Around 115 Chawathil First Nation members were at the Chawathil Open House on Wednesday evening (March 19) to get more information about the community's various projects to update their infrastructure. This included receiving an update that BC Housing had approved Phase 1 of Chawathil's 31-unit housing project at the end of February, approximately five months after the project was first announced to the public.
Chawathil is building the housing project through a partnership with BC Housing, and with designs by The Nerdy Architect inc., consultation by M'akola Development Services, and construction by Mierau Contractors Ltd.
This is the second housing project that Chawathil is tackling. Their first, renovating all 89 homes on the Chawathil reserve, is currently underway with over 30 homes having been renovated so far.
Aside from the housing project, community members and invited guests got the chance to learn more about Chawathil's wastewater treatment system (community collection and treatment plant) project, flood construction level project, greenhouse construction project, and the Chawathil Band Hall renovation project.
Presentations on the wastewater treatment system and the housing project took place at around 7 p.m. The wastewater treatment system is being done through David Nairne + Associates Ltd., with funding of the construction being covered by Indigenous Services Canada.
Royal Canadian Bank representatives were also at the open house and talking with members about switching their banks over from CIBC, which will be closing its Hope branch on Aug. 21.
Attendees also got the chance to tour the band's recently renovated community kitchen, located in the Chawathil gym. The renovation included upgrades to the kitchen's fridges, sink, stove, and counter tops, and has already received positive feedback and comments from community members. One of these comments comes from Gina Kay, the owner of Gina "Kay" tering, who said that the upgrade has already made preparing food much easier for community events.
The next open house for Chawathil will take place in April. Pete hopes even more band members will show up and make sure that their voices are heard about Chawathil's future. Especially when it comes to housing.
"It's been really fantastic to see more and more community members come out," Pete said. "There's not community that's like a First Nation community in today's world, because our people are from here, and their lineage goes back 10,000 years. You know your ancestors walked to these grounds, thousands of years ago, and so that gives you a deep connection to place.
"And First Nation communities are a place to reconnect with your loved ones. And with your family, and with your friends, in a non judgmental environment. And I think we need more of those spaces."
In addition to the open house, a community engagement meeting about Bill C-92 will be taking place at the Chawathil gym on March 28. The meeting will help Chawathil to create a law "that governs how services are delivered to Chawathil members, along with a service delivery model and a business plan to ensure sustainable funding for the programs that Chawathil members create."
For more updates and information regarding the meetings, members are asked to check the Chawathil app, website, and social media.
