Photo Credit: Kwadacha Nation

By Sam Bennison

Indigenous

Kwadacha Chief and Council declare state of emergency as community faces “deplorable housing conditions”

Jun 3, 2024 | 5:00 AM

NORTHERN B.C.— Kwadacha Nation Chief and Council are sounding the alarm as the remote community of Fort Ware faces a housing crisis.

According to the Nation, Kwadacha has long suffered with poor living conditions that began to fester with the flooding of their traditional territory in the 1960’s to pave way for the W.A.C. Bennett dam. The nation note that this flooding altered their nomadic tradition forcing them into a sedentary life, away from their homelands and ancestral burial grounds. Combined with the colonial impact of the Residential School system the members of the community face intergenerational suffering.

A house located in Kwadacha Nation(Credit: Kwadacha Nation)

Nowadays, the community members suffer from “deplorable” housing conditions, including living with mould, overcrowding, structural issues, and inadequate protection from the elements. The nation says that this crisis is escalating mental health and addiction issues, suicide, crime, and the need for increased child protection interventions; emphasized by the recent homicide that took place in January 2023.

Mold covering the insulation in one unit (Credit: Kwadacha Nation)

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In 2019, the National Housing Strategy Act declared adequate housing to be a fundamental human right. However, the Nation argues that neither their housing or the crowns action is adequate. They are now calling on the feds and the Province to take immediate, effective action and work collaboratively with their community to address the newly declared state of emergency. In addition, Chief and Council are calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to visit Fort Ware to experience firsthand the living conditions that exist in the Kwadacha community.

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Email: sam.bennison@pattisonmedia.com