More than 1,600 new homes on the way for Indigenous people - Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee

Indigenous people on and off reserve in B.C. will have access to approximately 1,600 new affordable rental homes through partnerships between the Province, through BC Housing, and Indigenous non-profit housing providers.

“The development of these 1,600 new homes is a crucial response to the housing crisis facing Indigenous communities, especially in Surrey, home to B.C.’s fastest-growing urban Indigenous population. Thanks to the support of the Indigenous Housing Fund, these homes will not only provide affordable housing but also serve as spaces for cultural connection, healing, and community. At FRAFCA, we approach housing differently, ensuring the inclusion of land-based Nations through our partnership with Sacred Waters. By doing so, we honour the lands we stand on while creating sustainable, environmentally friendly homes designed for the long-term well-being of both people and the land.”

Kyla Painter, executive director, Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA) –

All Our Relations: Honouring the Host Nations

Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee's work takes place on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the Katize, Kwantlen, and Semiahmoo First Nations. We recognize their connection to this land and acknowledge that we are newcomers to Surrey like everyone else. Our group, the Surrey Urban Indigenous Leadership Committee does not represent these land-based First Nations and we are careful not to speak on their behalf. Instead, we represent urban Indigenous people that have moved here from all over BC and Canada to make Surrey their home. Our focus is making Surrey a great place for Indigenous people living in the city — regardless of where they come from, their legal status, or their particular culture heritage. As we do this, we endeavour to live in a good way with the land-based First Nations that have called this land their home since time immemorial.