B.C.’s premier was on Snuneymuxw territory on National Indigenous Peoples Day to re-commit to working with the First Nation to deliver housing in Nanaimo.
Premier David Eby and Snuneymuxw Chief Mike Wyse participated in a drum-signing ceremony Wednesday, June 21, at the Coast Bastion Hotel, signalling a commitment to keep working together on housing and celebrating the work that has happened since a memorandum of understanding was signed in 2021.
The focus so far, according to a press release from the province, has been on building housing for women and children, elders and people experiencing homelessness. That work continues, but there are also projects in the works on- and off-reserve for families and working professionals, and a mix of affordable and market-rental housing planned.
“Housing is a big need for our people,” said Wyse. “We have a number of people that live off-reserve and abroad and giving them that opportunity to move home has always been a key element for this government and past governments of Snuneymuxw.”
He said Snuneymuxw needs developable land to accommodate housing and has identified certain locations around greater Nanaimo.
Eby said the provincial government and B.C. Housing have “learned a lot” through their partnership with Snuneymuxw, and while it is a template to what is possible around the province, he noted that each First Nation has its own approaches and priorities around housing.
“But this model of the MOU and the shared agreement to work together in principle and then developing plans from there is one that has worked well in other places in the province,” the premier said.
Eby also brought up the disproportionate representation of Indigenous people in homeless populations across B.C. The housing crunch is forcing people out of their home communities and ultimately onto the streets in Nanaimo and other urban centres.
“We need the federal government to step up as well to recognize the urgent need here and how building housing in community really builds strong communities,” Eby said.
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READ ALSO: City of Nanaimo, Snuneymuxw providing transitional housing for First Nation members
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