Coming Home Project will open with ceremony
Ground Blessing will happen August 13th at tiskʷət
Monday August 11, 2025
tiskʷət – Work begins this week to prepare the ground for the tiskʷət Coming Home Project which will bring 30 units of rental housing to the former village site at tiskʷət.
hegus John Hackett explains that ground blessing ceremonies are carried out for all Tla’amin’s major projects. “We bless the ground to begin the work in a good way by taking care of the land and our ancestors. Before we disturb the ground, we let the ancestors know what our plans and intentions are and pray that they will keep all the workers safe and protected.”
Located at 5903 Arbutus Ave, 30 affordable rental homes are planned for Tla’amin families and other Indigenous people living in the qathet region and are anticipated to be made up of two- and three-bedroom units.
Executive Councilor Dillon Johnson is excited to witness Tla’amin Nation’s first major housing development located outside of the main community of t̓išosəm. “We are coming home to tiskʷət,” said Johnson, “This was a central settlement for Tla’amin people until our forced removal in the early 1900s, our ancestors will rejoice to feel our presence here once again.”
The Coming Home Project is made possible through partnerships with BC Housing and Lu’ma Development Management which is providing development management services. Converge Construction will be managing site excavation.
Heavy machinery will be on site beginning in August 25 and lot preparation will be ongoing from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, six days a week until late October.
The Ground Blessing Ceremony is scheduled for August 13th at 10:00 AM at 5903 Arbutus Ave, members of the public are welcome to attend and observe the work.