Housing Policy Engagement

On This Page 

Overview | Upcoming Engagement | Working Group | Housing History Timeline

Building homes on our land for our people

To continue the proud tradition of building homes on our land and meet the Nation’s strategic vision of housing every Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Member within a generation, Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw (Council) has requested that the Housing Policy be updated.

Ta na wa Shéway I7x̱ w ta Úxwumixw (Planning & Capital Projects), Ts’ixwts’ixwnítway (Member Services), Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxuwmixw (Community Operations), and Hiy̓ám̓ Housing are working together on this important project.

The Project Team can be reached at housingpolicy@squamish.net or 604-904-7474.

Upcoming Engagement

Initial engagement sessions were held with Members in February 2022 where a number of questions about housing came up. The Project Team has compiled them into a Housing Q&A booklet. Print copies will be sent to all households.

The information provided in the booklet is also intended to help with future engagement sessions where Members will be asked to provide input on a range of housing issues, such as how the housing list is managed, how homes are allocated, how rental homes are managed etc. 

Read the Housing Q&A Booklet

Housing Policy Working Group

Huy chexw a (thank you) to those Members who expressed interest in joining the Housing Policy Working Group. Applications are now being reviewed by the Project Team. We will announce the names of those selected soon.

Housing History Timeline

You can also view the timeline as a PDF here.

Pre-Amalgamation
In the late 19th century Sḵwx̱wú7mesh built their own homes with the help of their family and community.

Most families had more than one home and moved between them as the seasons changed.

Colonialization in the 1850s changed this by forcing Indigenous people to stay put on reserve lands.
Group of Sḵwx̱wú7mesh men at Eslha7án̓ (Mission Reserve), with newly-made canoe. Circa 1912. Source: Museum of North Vancouver
Pre-Amalgamation
Nevertheless, the practice of families and community building homes continued. Chief and Council allocated residential lots on Eslha7án (Mission) and Xwmélch’sten (Capilano) reserves with the assistance of the Indian Agent and the Church.

By 1887, homes on Eslha7án were built as a standard 20x15 size (2 rooms). In the early 1900s, there were approximately 45 homes.

In the Squamish Valley, land was sold to Pacific Great Eastern Railway and many families used this money to construct their homes.
1923 – 1940
Council began formalizing the land allocation process for each Member.

Each Member made an application for a loan of $200 to purchase lumber and nails.

At first wooden logs were purchased and split by hand to construct buildings. By the 1940s, saw boards from the local mill were purchased.

12 taps were installed on Eslha7án for running water.
Newman house on Squamish Indian Reserve, foot of Capilano Rd. at First Narrows, circa 1930s. Source: Museum of North Vancouver Archives
1950 – 1970
In the mid-1950s, the city of Vancouver offered the Nation several abandoned wartime homes in exchange for paying the moving fees and prepping the new sites with a concrete pad.

55 homes were transported to Eslha7án and Xwmélch’sten. They were placed at West Esplanade, West 2nd, West 4th, and West 3rd Streets, and Mathias, Rivers, and Lawa Roads.
George Harry (Xwach-la-nexw) on left and Ernie Harry (Peḵultn Siyam) at Kow-tain village. Source: Squamish Public Library
1950 – 1970
Council began budgeting annually for construction.

There was no application process; Members simply wrote a letter to the Band Manager requesting a home. Three to six homes a year were built.

In 1970, Chief Joe Mathias became the Administrator of Housing.
Playing baseball in North Vancouver. George Harry (Xwach-la-nexw) is up to bat. Source: Squamish Public Library
1970 – 1981
As the demand for housing grew, the Nation reached out to the federal government to ask for funding.

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) only provided funding for multi-units, so Council agreed to the construction of townhomes on Eslha7án.
1970 – 1981
In 1971, 41 townhomes were completed with a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom units. Rent was $100, $105, and $110 respectively.

During this time 15 homes (lots) a year were allocated to families (married couples) and Elders: five each on Eslha7án, Xwmélch’sten, and Squamish Valley.

Families were interviewed by Council to determine if they would be approved for a lot and loan.
1982 – 2000
At a general meeting in June 1982, Membership indicated that priority should be given to families, children, and Elders, rather than individuals.

Since the early 1980s, homes (lots) have been allocated based on category and the date of application.

The Nation decided that it would build all homes for Membership. Only custom lots would be allocated going forward, rather than CP lots.

By 1987, all past housing loans were forgiven.
2000 – present
Council requested the development of a Housing Policy to inform Members: How to get on the housing list; The definitions of each category; How to change categories; How to select a lot; How to select a contract; How to select a house plan.

Meetings were held with Membership to make sure the categories were still reflective of the previously identified priorities. The categories were revised to: Single, Single parent, Married/common law and Pensioner.
Rendering of future 94-unit Xwmélch’sten Housing Project.
2000 – present
The Housing Policy was last updated in 2006 and has been used to allocate 15 homes (lots) each year.

In October 2019, Council approved the creation of a housing society called Hiyám ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh, which means The Squamish Are Coming Home, to lead the development and management of non-profit housing for Membership.
Previous
Next

Main Office

320 Seymour Blvd
North Vancouver, BC, V7L 4J5
604-980-4553

Facebook-f Instagram Twitter