Steering Committee

The HRS Steering Committee is to provide strategic direction and oversight for the development and delivery of an effective HRS model that supports First Nations communities with a range of services along the housing continuum. The Committee has representatives from the Upper Nicola Band and First Nations from Secwepemc, and Nlaka’pamux Nations.

The Committee is currently comprised of eight Advisory Committee Members supported by their respective communities through a Band Council Resolution or letter of support signed by the Chief.

Any vacancies on the Committee will be filled through a call for expressions of interests from First Nations in the catchment area. The selection will be based on a matrix of criteria to ensure diverse representation of members that from the Nations served.

Clifford Chillihitzia

Housing Manager, Upper Nicola Band

Clifford is from Upper Nicola Band (UNB), and has had numerous educational, employment and contracting opportunities outside his community.

He is now working for his own community and supporting other First Nations with their housing projects. Clifford has a breadth of building and carpentry experience ranging from lumber frame to log and steel structures for both residential and commercial uses. His hands-on experience in building, counselling therapy and on UNB Council compliments his role delivering the UNB’s housing program.

Clifford considers an important aspect of his job is the empowerment of UNB members to own their homes and understanding about housing maintenances. repair, and replacement. This has resulted in numerous families owning their own homes, minimizing rental arrears, and successfully implementing housing policies and strategies.

Clifford and his wife are proud parents of 2 girls, 4 boys and their 4 grandchildren. When he has a little bit of time away from work, you may find him watching a Bruins game!

Maryann Yarama

Tribal Director, Shuswap Nation Tribal Council

It is important for Maryann to follow her culture by starting with her family introductions. Her parents are Lorne and Debbie Sampson, and her grandparents are Henry and Anne Sampson from Adams Lake Indian Band. Maryann is the Governance Director, and Intergovernmental Political Manager with Shuswap Nation Tribal Council and a member of the Adams Lake Indian Band.

The reason Maryann wanted to be part of HRS is to assist communities with positive support for housing, and for them to help each other in providing healthy homes for their members. “Healthy homes” promotes good physical and mental health and can instill pride in the homeowners. By providing space for communities to network, gives them the opportunity to expand their housing staff’s knowledge base, share resources, and support each other.

Maryann likes to rodeo and comes from a rodeo family. This allows her time to connect with her family during long hauls in a vehicle, create memories, and work together with our horses.

Dennis Pierre

Emergency and Housing Coordinator, Siska Indian Band

Dennis started working in maintenance and in 2019 became the Emergency and Housing Coordinator for Siska Indian Band. His accomplishes since starting his position are completion of 3 renovations and 2 modular homes, and reduction of housing arrears. Dennis is willing to be a FireSmart mentor neighbouring communities, which is a program that helps educate and prepare residents, their homes, neighbourhoods, critical infrastructure, and vital natural resources from wildfire.

Marie Baptiste

Councillor, Tkʼemlúps te Secwépemc

More to come..

Kyle Minnabarriet

Public Works and Housing Assistant, Skeetchestn Indian Band

More to come…

Tahnea Alphonse

Residential Property Manager, Esk'etemc

My name is Tahnea Alphonse, an Esk’etemc band member; I have been an official band member since September 2022, but have called Esk’etemc home since 1996.

I’m a mother to three boys, and four beautiful daughters, and a grandmother to Tobias, Kaydence, and a new baby due in June 2024. As one would guess that family is my number one priority, I love family trips, birthdays, any occasion that brings us together. In my spare time you can find me playing lahal also known as stick games, I love that I’m able to play lahal to connect with family and friends, and to sing our Secwepemc songs.

In July 2023, I have accepted my new job role as Esk’etemc Residential Property Manager. Due to the new position, I look forward to future planning of housing policy changes, new housing, new ways to better current housing situations, such as rental arrears, by providing knowledge on basic home maintenance, and financial management sessions. I’ve currently been in my job role for eight months, and I want to set a goal of being deficit-free in the housing department.

I love and care for our Esk’etemc territory and take great pride in it. I would like to have the funds to attend to all requests that come forward in regard to housing; in order for this to happen I must work alongside my community members to express the importance of keeping uptodate on rent as the housing department’s revenue comes from rent being collected. I have an open-door policy and happily invite community members to come and see me, to ask questions in regard to housing or their tenancy.

My purpose is to listen and gather information in order to find ways to make housing better for the future. And I strive for honesty and transparency with my community, hoping to address any concerns that they may have on housing issues.