It’s business as usual at Island 22 homeless camp in Chilliwack ahead of an eviction deadline in January

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Shxwha:y Village Chief Robert Gladstone told Fraser Valley Today in a phone interview last week that the process of eviction will be done with compassion accompanied by an underlying sense of urgency given what plans are underway for the property.

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“It’s always been our intention to do this (eviction) in the most compassionate, understanding way,” Chief Gladstone said. “We’ve tried to do this in the most sensitive and supportive way we can. The thing that really puts us under some pressure to clear the area is that we’ve been awarded significant funds through the federal government to build a dike. The beautiful thing is that the City of Chilliwack had some money left in their flood protection (budget). We’ve come together as a First Nation along with the federal, provincial and city governments to solve a common problem, and that’s flood protection. We know the floods are coming. The 200-year flood is becoming the 50-year flood due to climate change. We have this opportunity to come together to build flood protection. This land in particular the folks have camped out on is in a perfect staging area to do this work together. That’s why the urgency has come up.”

An eviction notice was installed on Friday, December 8 outside of the Island 22 homeless encampment on Cartmell Road in Chilliwack, advising residents there that they could be charged with an offence if they continue to unlawfully occupy privately owned lands governed by a First Nation in Chilliwack. The current use of Shxwha:y Village’s reserve lands for an encampment is not authorized by Shxwha:y Village, its leadership, or its laws.

Image: Mike Vanden Bosch / Pattison Media / A trailer outside the gated premises of the Island 22 homeless camp, 45645 Cartmell Road, in Chilliwack.

“You are hereby given notice under Shxwha:y Village laws that your occupation on Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands is not authorized nor consented to by Shxwha:y Village,” the notice stated. “It is mandatory that you immediately cease your occupation, stop overnight camping, and remove all your personal property from Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands by January 31, 2024. Although Shxwha:y Village is providing time to leave the encampment on Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands, this does not provide permission to stay until January 31, 2024.”

The mounted notice goes on to say that continued occupation beyond this deadline of January 31, 2024 will be deemed as trespassing in accordance with Shxwha:y Village laws.

“You are directed to vacate Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands promptly. Failure to comply will be regarded as unlawful, and appropriate action will be taken as specified under Shxwha:y Villages Laws regarding trespassing on our Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands,” the notice stated.

Shxwha:y Village advises residents at the camp on the posted notice that in accordance with the reserve’s laws, a peace officer, including the RCMP, has the power to arrest without warrant any person found on Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands without authorization if the peace officer believes that the person is committing an offence under Shxwha:y Villages laws relating to Shxwha:y Village lands.

“The protected access to Shxwha:y Village Reserve Lands is intended to ensure the safety of our community members and the general public. In collaboration with the City of Chilliwack, Shxwha:y Village will work to ensure that support services are available to assist occupants,” the notice stated. “Your immediate compliance with this notice is required. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this matter. Chief Robert Gladstone. December 1, 2023.”

The property has been occupied by at least 50 recreational vehicles, and well over 50 people reside there at the off-the-grid encampment. The Chilliwack Fire Department has responded to the encampment on multiple occasions over the past year for reported fires, including incidents in April, July, October and December 2023.