Eighteen months after first starting the project, Chawathil First Nation (CFN) wants to thank and recognize Hope River Contracting (HRC) for helping them repair 22 of their homes.
“We are honored that Chawathil First Nation entrusted us with completing these much needed repairs and we are thankful to have the opportunity to help improve the quality of life for so many of their members,” said Brandon Woo, the owner of HRC. “It’s nice to actually help people. A lot of the time when you’re working, especially when you’re working new construction, you almost feel like you’re not part of the solution.
“But with this work, the community has been very appreciative of the (repairs) we’ve been doing.”
The repairs are part of the CFN’s big project to improve housing and infrastructure within the Chawathil community. Since the beginning of 2023, CFN has been working hard to repair all 89 houses remaining in the community.
Housing has been a concern for CFN members, especially for those living on CFN’s two reserves (Chawathil IR#4 and Schkam IR#2) as, for nearly 40 years, they have been living in houses with unsafe living conditions.
Woo was hired by CFN in May 2023 after being referred by Ch’íyáqtel (formerly Tzeachten) First Nation. Founded in 2018, HRC is a general contracting company, based out of Chilliwack, that mainly focuses on renovations. According to HRC’s website, Woo and his team have “extensive experience working with Indigenous communities, and are dedicated to providing tailored services that meet the unique needs and preferences of clients.” This includes incorporating Indigenous language, symbols, and traditional building materials when working.
Under Woo’s leadership, HRC has been the main general contracting company for the project and did repairs for all 22 houses. They have also been hired by CFN to do work on another 15 homes this year, after CFN received funding from the federal government to repair them.
“We just signed on for another 15 houses. And then there’s talks of another round starting, hopefully, later this year,” Woo said. “We’ve been hearing from a lot of the members how difficult it’s been to have repairs done in the past. I feel that the new Chawathil Housing team is very motivated to fix this problem.
“And the availability of the ISC funding programs has and will definitely make a very positive impact on the community.”
Due to the severity of the repairs and health issues with the buildings (which includes a severe mold problem), CFN also partnered up with the federal government, who have provided funding to the band in order to “support (CFN’s) vision for improving existing homes and laying the groundwork for future housing plans.” This funding was received from the government’s Indigenous Services Canada and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
“Housing continues to be a pressing need in communities across this country, and Indigenous Peoples are feeling the effects at a disproportionate rate,” said Patty Hajdu, the minister of Indigenous Services. “Through this collaboration, combined with the strong advocacy, hard work and dedication of their leadership, more families will have a safe and comfortable place to call home.”
READ MORE:Chawathil First Nation repairs 15 of 89 houses
The project is being led by CFN Coun. Aaron Pete and CFN Housing Manager Saje Murphy. The first application to fix houses was submitted in early 2023 and led to 15 — now 22 — houses being repaired. The second application, to fix another 15 houses this year, has been accepted and a third application is being submitted.
“It’s with immense gratitude that I acknowledge the unwavering support from Indigenous Services Canada and its exemplary staff,” Pete said. “Their partnership has been instrumental in the repair of 22 homes in our community over a span of 18 months. The funding provided by Indigenous Services Canada to bridge housing gaps has proven to be remarkably accessible, reliable, and straightforward to apply for.
“Their commitment to easing the application process has significantly empowered our community to address our housing needs effectively. Our long-term vision is to ensure all homes meet health and safety requirements so that our members can not only live but thrive.”
According to both Pete and CFN Housing Manager Saje Murphy, for nearly four decades, CFN members on reserve have been living in houses with conditions that include: significant holes in the roofs, ceilings, walls, and floors; broken windows, floors, and structural supports; rotting of the houses’ wooden frames; not enough rooms to house the families living there; lack of working heating, plumbing, and electricity; damaged or missing carports.
Additionally, all of the houses, they said, are also dealing with a severe mold problem which is causing health issues (such as asthma) for CFN members.
Because of the severity of the health and safety issues with the houses (which includes a severe mold problem),
“We are grateful for our partnership with the Government of Canada,” said CFN Chief Norman Florence. “This investment helped Chawathil First Nation improve the livability of homes in our community while having a positive impact on our housing needs.
“I also commend our staff for their hard work to achieve this milestone. With every housing repair, we are building a healthier future for our community.”
In addition to repairing houses, CFN also plans to build 30 more housing units. They are also working with the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities (MOHIC) to develop a new ‘Active Transportation Plan.’ This includes enhancing their sidewalks, multi-use pathways, crossings, and other essential infrastructure like bridges.
READ MORE: Walking to get safer in Chawathil First Nation with new ‘active’ transportation plan