The trespass notice went up a week ago at the encampment near Island 22 Regional Park, effectively evicting campers from the lands owned by Shxwhá:y Village.
The notice was signed by Shxwhá:y chief Robert Gladstone and posted at the entrance of the camp, as well as in front of individual camp sites where an assortment of trailers, campers, tents and vehicles are parked.
Police vehicles were seen in the encampment recently, along with support workers from Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) talking to residents.
Chief Gladstone said he made a point of being on-scene at the camp when the trespass notice was delivered, adding they’ve been trying to address the situation “with compassion and sensitivity” for months, despite the harsh language of the notice.
“We understand the plight that they are facing,” Chief Gladstone underlined. “These people are human beings. It breaks my heart to have to do this. But this is something that is needed to serve the greater good.”
The property is earmarked to become a primary staging area for the upcoming flood protection construction project to protect local First Nations.
He’s talking about major dike project in partnership with City of Chilliwack, and Province of B.C. that will bring Shxwhá:y Village and Sqwa First Nation lands under the protection of the Chilliwack diking system for the first time. The $45-million dike project has a target of 2028 for completion, and the parties recently signed a memorandum of agreement about it.
B.C. Premier David Eby was in Chilliwack last year with $5-million announcement for riprap and other components to complement the federally funded dike project.
There are about 54 sites in the camp, with an estimated 40 people living there. Many of the residents have jobs, and some grow their own food.
The residents of the encampment are required to leave by Jan. 31, according to the trespass notice.
“It is mandatory that you immediately cease your occupation, stop overnight camping, and remove all your personal property,” by the deadline, the notice said.
Anyone who fails to leave by Jan. 31 will be considered trespassing and subject to possible arrest.
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