Nestled along Lougheed Highway in Maple Ridge lies the humble abode of 80-year-old Florence Thomas, the revered matriarch of the Whonnock People.
Living in a rundown trailer without reliable power or running water, Thomas faces daily challenges. She resorts to renting a portable washroom and embarks on weekly trips to fetch drinking water in town.
Her living conditions are far from ideal, especially for someone who is blind in one eye and half deaf. Thomas relies heavily on her family for support, as she navigates through life without basic amenities like a fridge for fresh meat, subsisting mainly on canned food and bottled water.
This unfortunate state of affairs stems from the demolition of her family’s house on the Whonnock 1 Reserve in the 1990s due to mold infestation. Despite promises of a new home, all that stands now is an empty lot.
In a heartwarming gesture, the Whonnock Cultural Reclamation Society is rallying behind Thomas, aiming to provide her with a new trailer on the property, courtesy of the Kwan-Kwaw-a-pilt First Nation. The goal is set at $32,000, with fundraising efforts ranging from small raffles to leveraging social media platforms.
However, the road to reclaiming their land has been fraught with challenges. The Thomas family has faced difficulties with the Kwantlen First Nation, which oversees the Whonnock 1 Reserve, alleging a lack of support.
Despite the intricate politics and historical disputes, Thomas’s ultimate wish remains simple – a safe and dignified home where her extensive family of seven children, 31 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren can reunite.
