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History of Tsawaayuus - July 2, 1992 - July 8, 2000
The United Native Nation's took on the project of an old age home.
In 1985, 5 ladies had a dream of building a safe home for Native Elders, which would also hire native employees to look after the Elders. The group from the UNN stood in from of businesses on tag days, had bake sales, bingos and raffles. A small group of very diligent workers did this on weekends and special weekdays.
The Westcoast Native Health Care Society eventually became a reality that branched out from our local UNN #144 in Port Alberni.
We had meetings once a month taking on the task of meeting with provincial and federal government representatives.
The UNN raised $75,000 over 3 - 4 years. We received $100,000 from the First Citizen Fund and $75,000 from the Native Economic Development Corporation. Finally, in 1989, Peter Dueck, from the BC Ministry of Health gave 100 long-term care beds to Port Alberni, 70 of those went to Echo Village and 30 beds came to the Westcoast native Health Care Society. Construction costs for those 30 beds came to $2.2 million.
Dave Haggard was our tenacious bulldog…he was the Chairperson of the Westcoast Native Health Care Society.
1990 - ground broken at our facility site
1992 - facility opened.
Our first resident was Joshua Edgar, he was 99 years old.
I again thank the 5 ladies who had the dream of this facility and all those United Native Nations' members who gave their free time in fund raising. Without your dream and great focus …. We would not have such a great facility and a JOB!
KLECO, KLECO
Bunt Cranmer
Direct Care Aide
Past Project Manager
July 8,2000
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