Tla’amin Nation is building 30 affordable rental homes at tiskʷət, its original village site located at 5903 Arbutus Ave. The project, selected by the Province and BC Housing, will provide two- and three-bedroom units for Tla’amin families, other Indigenous people in the qathet region, people with disabilities, women with children, and youth. It marks the Nation’s first major housing development located outside of t̓išosəm.
Background
The Indian Act and reserve system reduced Tla’amin Nation’s land base to six small reserves for 150 years. During this period, Lot 450 was illegally established, and important villages at Grief Point, Willington Beach, and tiskʷət were taken from the Nation.
In 2016, Tla’amin Nation, BC, and Canada signed a modern treaty, and Tla’amin resumed responsibility for over 8,300 hectares of its territory. The treaty did not address the tiskʷət site, leaving it open to future negotiations.
The City of Powell River provided consent to designate the property as Treaty Settlement Land in September 2018, and the Province of BC is in the process of redesignating the land as TSL. Tla’amin is also negotiating a specific claim with Canada that includes the tiskʷət village, and on October 27, 2024, signed the yiχmɛtštəm tiskʷat (we are going to take care of tiskwat) Memorandum of Understanding with the Province of BC.
Over the past four years, Tla’amin has undergone a building boom, erecting 42 new units of housing along with a daycare, youth centre, and emergency housing site.
The Project
The tiskʷət housing project will bring 30 energy efficient, affordable rental homes to the Nation’s original village site, the first time Tla’amin people will live at and care for tiskʷət since being forcibly removed 150 years ago.
The design is modelled on the Nation’s recently completed 24-unit Elders and assisted-needs housing complex in t̓išosəm, an approach shaped by extensive community engagement and chosen to save on time and budget by building on a design already proven to feel like home to Tla’amin Citizens.
The project has received letters of support from Powell River Mayor and Council, the Powell River Chamber of Commerce, the qathet Regional District, and other regional partners. Tla’amin has partnered with Lu’ma Development Management and Urban Arts Architectures to develop the project plan. More details will be shared as they’re finalized.
How can I stay up to date on the project?
Questions about the project can be directed to project manager Brandon.Bresden@tn-bc.ca