The Squamish Nation brings festive joy to families with annual brimming hampers

The Squamish Nation delivers hundreds of Christmas hampers to members of the community each festive season. (Courtesy: Squamish Nation)

Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Úxwumixw (Squamish Nation) families are looking forward to a festive feast this season, thanks to another successfully completed Yuletide mission from the nation's charitable elves.

Over 1,000 brimming hampers, containing all the fixings for a bountiful Yuletide dinner, were dished out to families in need in Squamish and North Vancouver earlier this month.

Some were available to be picked up by those living off-reserve Dec.9, while the rest were handed out, with the help of extra hands from the local police forces, the following day.

Intended to provide all the ingredients for a full, festive meal for a family of four-to-six people, the hampers contain a turkey, 10 pounds of potatoes, carrots, a box of stuffing, gravy mix and cranberry sauce. Ensuring the first meal of the day is also a memorable one, the nation also took care to include coffee, tea, cake mix, pancake mix, and syrup.

“The care packages are awesome and are meant to include everything you need for Christmas dinner and breakfast,” said the nation’s elected Coun. Wilson Williams.

“We want everyone to have a beautiful holiday meal and Christmas morning together.”

While the heartwarming project has been officially running for five years, the concept has been present in one form or another for decades, said Williams.

“I can remember my family receiving hampers when I was a kid,” he said.

“The program began by helping out those who were truly in need and on social assistance, but it has evolved to support all community members living on reserve and beyond.”

The initiative especially took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, when so many in the Squamish community – especially elders – were struggling, said Williams. With each year since, the program has expanded substantially.

Last year, 900 hampers were carefully curated and delivered. This year marked the program’s most successful, with over 1,000 hampers distributed.

The number of packages given to homes since the program first began is “definitely in the thousands at this point,” Williams said, adding that they “bring families together” in a time where connection is needed the most.

“Over the years, I’ve seen up close the impact these hampers can have, even on my own family when I was young. People are so thankful for everything,” he said.

A welcome surprise to families even all these years down the road, Williams said the hampers continue to incite reactions that are “overwhelmingly positive.”

With the prices of everyday items continuing to soar and the general cost of living affecting a growing number of families, the hampers provide a brief moment of relief during the festive period, he added.

“Honestly, it means so much to people, and for some, they really rely on it,” said Williams.

“We have some families that are struggling, maybe they have four or five kids, and they are finding it really hard to make ends meet. Receiving a hamper ensures they can all have a delicious family meal together on Christmas.”

Const. Mansoor Sahak of the North Vancouver RCMP said the packages are “so well received by the families,” and, with many residents having already built a relationship with the delivering officers over the years, it feels like receiving a gift from a friend.

The Integrated First Nations Unit, comprising officers from the North Vancouver RCMP, West Vancouver Police Department and the Squamish RCMP, assists with the hefty deliveries each year.

“It’s a great program, and everybody is just so happy to be a part of it,” he said, adding that Christmas should always be a time to consider “giving back to the community.”

As for the nation, it seems there is no rest for Santa's elves. Williams mentions meetings that are already taking place to discuss next year’s program. In keeping with tradition, it will, he promises, be bigger and better than what we’ve already seen.

“They are hoping to increase the number of packages to 1,200 to 1,500 for the 2025 holiday season,” he said.