Bringing Squamish People Home

Squamish Nation Council has set a bold and definitive goal: to house every Squamish person within a generation (25 years).

Housing is our people’s number one priority. As the cost of living continues to rise in Sḵwx̱wú7mesh communities’ historical territory, it is more important than ever that our people have access to a range of affordable housing options that serve their needs.

Founded in 2019 by Squamish Nation Council, Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Housing Society is the not-for-profit organization responsible for building and managing affordable housing for our members. Hiy̓ám̓ is creating much-needed equitable and affordable homes for our people and reducing the barriers to help bring our people home.
Hiy̓ám̓ Housing header image with branding on the left

Christine Baker
(Squamish Nation Member) - TlatlaKwot

Christine is currently the General Manager at Squamish Nation, Squamish Valley Operations and has 40 plus years experience working with the Nation in a leadership role from Housing to Employment and Training to her present position, Ayas Men Men Child/Family/Yuustway Health for the Squamish Valley Operations. In addition, she is a Director of Vancouver Native Housing Society for over twenty years and has experience with non-profit housing governance. She is a recent recipient of the “Bill Manson – Citizen of the Year Award 2020” from the Squamish Chamber of Commerce.

Lilian Chau

Lilian is a Member of the Canadian Institute of Planners with extensive experience in urban planning, social purpose real estate development, affordable housing funding and financing, non-profit leadership, and public engagement with local and Indigenous communities. She is the CEO of Entre Nous Femmes Housing Society, one of Canada’s first women-led community housing organizations that provide over 400 affordable homes to over 1500 women, children, single-parent families, seniors, and people with disabilities in Metro Vancouver. Lilian earned her Bachelor of Arts in Cultural Anthropology and a Master of Arts from the School of Community and Regional Planning at UBC.

Jessie Williams

Jessie is a citizen of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is currently the Dean for the Indigenous Initiatives at Vancouver Community College. Leaning on wisdom gained from her lived experience, educational attainment, professional journey, and elder teachings, Jessie has developed a passion for empowering Indigenous presence, voice, and capacity.

Jessie's career has been focused on reconciliation, partnership development, strategic planning, business development, innovation, facilitation, inclusivity, engagement, leadership, and diverse aspects of nation-building across industries and sectors. As an experienced Board of Director and committee member, Jessie brings a holistic lens to governance, strategy and planning. She has obtained both a Master's of Educational Administration and Leadership in Indigenous Education, and a Bachelor of Business Administration.

Kirby Brown

General Manager of the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish BC and previously the President and COO of Panorama Mountain Village. Graduating with a commerce degree from Dalhousie University in Halifax, Brown was on the Whistler Housing Authority Board for several years in the early 2000’s and has a background in property management from his years as a Senior Manager for Whistler Blackcomb. Kirby brings many years of business and non-profit expertise to the Society.

Dr. Dave Baspaly

A certified management consultant with a doctorate in business administration from the International School of Management, Dave is an experienced corporate leader with a keen interest in bringing diverse interests together to achieve collaboration and co-operation. He has helped organizations work through complex issues in order to achieve strategic goals, increase performance and produce lasting results. In addition to his doctorate, Dave holds a master’s degree from Royal Roads University specializing in dispute resolution, and an undergraduate degree in history and political science from Simon Fraser University. Dave is the owner of Infocus Management Consulting.

Sara Silva

Sarah Silva is the Vice President of Real Estate and Development at Nch’ḵaỷ Development Corporation and a proud member of the Squamish Nation. Sarah is an established real estate professional and community builder with a proven record of leading innovative and impactful projects and teams.

Sarah is responsible for identifying and pursuing strategic real estate and development opportunities in alignment with Nch’ḵay̓’s vision and priorities, ensuring initiatives reflect the highest standards of corporate social responsibility and land stewardship. Her work is guided by Sḵwx̱wú7mesh values and a mandate to promote projects that balance the economic, social, environmental, and cultural needs of current and future generations.

Sarah is a founding Board Member and previously served as CEO of Hiy̓ám̓ ta Sḵw̱xwú7mesh Housing Society – the Squamish Nation’s non-profit housing arm. Hiy̓ám̓ Housing is responsible for building and managing non-profit housing for the Squamish Nation and being a leader in building safe, healthy, inclusive, affordable communities where people are engaged and empowered.

Kelley McReynolds - Yataltenat

Kelley is a citizen of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) and is currently the Director of Ayas Menmen Child & Family Services for the Squamish Nation. She has over 30 years of experience in community development and support services grounded in sacred relationships and wise practices as understood through a Squamish lens. In addition to this work, she is on the executive for BC Indigenous child & family services directors, to ensure that the best interests of Indigenous children are being met. Advocating for systemic changes to policy, practice, legislation and funding. Kelley notes that recognizing the inherent strengths of our community regardless of the challenges we face means we are more able to meet the needs of our members in positive healthy ways. This means being grounded in our Squamish values, culture and traditions. Our people are guided by awareness that the ways of our ancestors created balance within home, family and community.

Building safe, equitable and affordable housing

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