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Williams Lake Indian Band enforces housing policy

The Williams Lake Indian Band is standing by the recent eviction of a family living in a WLIB-owned home located at Sugarcane.

The Williams Lake Indian Band is standing by the recent eviction of a family living in a WLIB-owned home located at Sugarcane.

Wanting to get ahead of what the band said is “false information” being shared on social media, the band circulated a communication brief to community members stating that people living in Band-owned homes are under a legal obligation to pay rent each month to the WLIB.

April and Jamie Thomas were evicted on May 5, 2017 for their repeated failure to pay rent and sign an arrears payment agreement, the band stated in the brief.

“This was a legal eviction, in which the Band respected the Tenants’ procedural rights and protections. The eviction was carried out by band employees. The RCMP were keeping the peace.”

In recent years, WLIB has been trying to enforce valid rental contracts and collecting rent and arrears.

A widely distributed Facebook post dated May 5 stated the Thomas family was being targeted for standing up against the Northern Secwepemc Treaty process saying it violates human rights.

In her own words, April posted that they had paid their house off for years.

Last year in March the band evicted Sheldon Wycotte, 29, after lengthy due process and a failure to pay rent.

At the time Wycotte said he was targeted by band administration after refusing to attend a treatment centre and sign a tenancy agreement. Wycotte’s eviction and the social media attention that followed caused confusion in the community and was one of the factors in last spring’s occupation of the band office.

He no longer lives at Sugarcane.

April vocally opposed Wycotte’s eviction and was there the day he was removed from his home by the RCMP.

She told the Tribune the band imposed a housing policy on the membership in 2010 without proper consultation and consent.

“They are using that policy to their own advantage and they ignore it when band members are trying to get disclosure of information,” Thomas said at the time, adding no one can get their houses in their name.

In the communication brief, Chief and Council said they have a duty to protect community assets and diligently manage rental units, and encouraged community members to learn about their rights and obligations as renters of Band-owned property and to contact the housing department if they required assistance.

Chief Ann Louie told the Tribune Tuesday, May 23, she could not provide an update because the eviction has become a legal issue.

On Wednesday, April said she has hired a lawyer.



Monica Lamb-Yorski

About the Author: Monica Lamb-Yorski

A B.C. gal, I was born in Alert Bay, raised in Nelson, graduated from the University of Winnipeg, and wrote my first-ever article for the Prince Rupert Daily News.
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