Family Lost House in Fire is Requesting Support

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -

NATIVE FAMILY LOST EVERYTHING IN HOUSE FIRE -

JOSEPH/THOMAS/COOK FAMILY REQUESTING SUPPORT TO REBUILD FAMILY HOME & LIFE

(Williams Lake, BC - February 12, 2023) In the early morning of Saturday, the family woke startled to find their home on fire stemming from an art carving shed located beside their home. Living in the home was Charles Joseph, his children James (19), Jacob (7), Rain (6) and Jordon (5).

Charles Joseph is a world famous, west coast Kwakwaka'wakw Artist known for making masks, totem poles, and canoes; his work is found in homes and businesses around the world. His most relatively recent work, a totem pole, stands in front of the Montreal Museum of Fine Art at the Assiniboine Park, Winnipeg.

Charles has spent most of his life on the West Coast, primarily Alert Bay, Fort Rupert, and Courtenay, British Columbia. He currently lives in Williams Lake where he continues to create art, that is until his house burnt down. Among the other work he has done to earn a living and support his family is fishing and logging. He is also a residential school survivor having attended St. Michaels at Alert Bay, BC. (About | Charles Joseph (charlesnativeart.ca))

Charles, being an artist lost a totem pole almost ready for sale, many carvings and paintings ready for sale, his art work shed, along with all of his tools and supplies he uses to create his art. Furthermore, the family was in the process of renovating the home and were about half way completed the inside and outside, as well as may new appliances and water tank and such that was just newly purchased. Boone and his kids also lost all their home furniture, cloths, toys and personal belongs. And if you are trying to get ahold of Charles he lost his phone in the fire too.

James Cook, 19, has just completed graduation requirements at the Lake City Secondary, Williams Lake and is currently working on his application to attend Thompson Rivers University this Fall 2023. James lost much of his personal values as well. James is the son to Frankie Thomas and Donavan Cook from Alert Bay, BC.

Mary Thomas, is a Secwepemc (Shuswap) from the Williams Lake First Nation community who was just in the process of moving out of the home and lost much of her personal and sentimental belongings to including a vast, exquisite art collection from famous artists around the work. Mary is also a residential school survivor having attended St. Joseph’s Mission near Williams Lake, BC.

This is a tragedy on top of a tragedy as the family has just recently lost Frankie Thomas, their wife, daughter and mother on January 9, 2023. And to make matter worse the house was not insured.

With all this being said, on behalf of our Joseph/Thomas/Cook family we are asking family, friends and community to please help and give what you can in terms of financial donations and/or other listed items. Many people been reaching out asking how they can help, items needed include:

• Furniture – beds, dressers, night stands, couch & table set

• Dishes, pots & pans, eating wear, etc.

• Blankets, sheets, pillows, and towels

• Tools that can be used for art or carpentry.

• Gift Cards that can be used to buy food, cloths, and tools.

• NO NEED FOR ANY MORE CLOTHS THANK YOU!

If you can please click on the link for the gofundme and give what you can as the family and community are coordinating to build the family a new home come snow melt this spring.

Thank you to the Williams Lake First Nation for graciously offering a rental unit to the family until their new home is built and for all their support given to the family. And thank you to the 150 Mile and Sugarcane fire departments who were quick to respond. And also to all the community who were there on the scene and after to support the family as they endured this crisis.

All the love, generosity and support is greatly appreciated as the family has endured so much these past couple months and years. Kukstsetsemc – thank you again.

For further information or if you would like to donate please contact April Thomas at [phone redacted], or email/etransfer [email redacted]