2 minute read
Building boom at t̓išosəm
The three new homes for low-income Tla’amin families
BY ABBY FRANCIS | LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER
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In 2020 Tla’amin Nation broke ground by starting the first building projects in over 15 years on Nation land. Five of these projects have just been completed.
On July 12 a grand opening ceremony was held for three new social housing units, which each have four bedrooms and will be rented out to Tla’amin families with low income.
Meekwan Blaney and Levi Wikes dance
An opening ceremony was also held for the new Child Development and Resource Centre (Children’s House), an extension to Tla’amin’s current daycare that will provide a larger space for the older children.
Inside the Cousin’s House (fieldhouse), soccer players (l-r) Rowan Tom-Leblanc, Madison Wilkes, Lawna Dingwall, Riel Tom-Leblanc, and Seni Luiafoa, and drummers mark the opening of the new buildings.
The new fieldhouse (Cousin’s House) had a ceremony too. Cousin’s House has a kitchen, weight room, offices, and will have before and after school care programs for kids and teens.
These projects were celebrated through drumming, singing, dancing, and speeches by public works director Carmen Galligos, hegus John Hackett, executive council member Dillion Johnson, MLA Nicholas Simons, as well as minister of Crown-Indigenous relations Marc Miller.
Although the five buildings are complete, they are set to be used late August and early September.
Elder Les.Pet (Doreen Point) opened each ceremony with a traditional prayer, while elders and youth brushed the insides and outsides of buildings with cedar boughs.
Dignitaries representing Tla’amin, BC and Canada: Gail Blaney, Nicholas Simons, Lynn Galligos, Marc Miller, John Louie, Doreen Point, and John Hackett.
The day started at the social housing and ended at Cousin’s House where a bannock taco and salmon lunch was provided by Tla’amin for attendees. After the ceremonies, a mother bear and her cubs played in the field behind Cousin’s House, putting the new youth space to use. | abby@prliving.ca
