Estx̱wáy̓usem
Finance
Insurance Claims
Phone: 604-980-4553
Email: insurance@squamish.net
One of the responsibilities of the Estx̱wáy̓usem department is to manage the Nation’s insurance portfolio, including insurance for Member housing on-reserve and Nation-owned buildings. Staff also assist Nation Members with their insurance claims to make certain that valid claims are processed as efficiently as possible.
Claims Reporting Process
Some examples of incidents that may result in a property damage claim are: fire and smoke damage, water damage, flood, earthquake, robbery or theft, and windstorm/hail/ice storm.- Remain calm and take all reasonable steps to ensure the safety and well being of any individuals.
- Call 911 immediately in the event of a fire and smoke damage.
- Report any theft or robbery to the police as soon as possible.
- Take reasonable steps to prevent further damage to the property. This may require actions such as calling a plumber for emergency water shut off or repairs, securing the building with temporary boarding up of windows, doors etc. It is important that homeowners remove any moisture as soon as possible to prevent mold.
- If it is safe to do so, take photos of the damaged property.
- For support with renovations, Members can also contact Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxwumixw (Community Operations):
North Vancouver: 604-980-8655 and communityoperations@squamish.net
Squamish Valley: 604-848-2200 and svcommopsworkorders@squamish.net
- Contact Aislinn McCullough at insurance@squamish.net to request a property claim form.
- Complete the form and include photos of the damage if possible. You should also include receipts for any immediate repair work or other expenses you incurred as a result of the property damage (eg. staying in a hotel), and the police file number/copy of report, if applicable.
Once this information has been submitted to Nation administration, it will be reviewed and further information may be requested to complete your claim. Members are asked to submit their paperwork promptly and work collaboratively with the Nation to minimize losses and costs to the community.
No expenses are covered until the Nation and their insurers provide agreement. Any payments are subject to standard deductibles and policy limits. Once the process under the Nation’s policy has been completed, Members may wish to make a claim against their personal contents insurance policy.
Click here to watch a video explaining the information below.
All homes on-reserve are insured by the Nation and in situations where the home is significantly damaged (eg. lost due to a fire), contents are covered up to $100,000. However in those situations, Members would first pay a deductible of up to $50,000 to replace their personal items, before the Nation’s policy will begin to cover the rest of the costs.
If the damage does not exceed $50,000, Nexwsp’áyaḵen ta Úxwumixw (Community Operations) would cover the repairs to homes on-reserve; however, Members would have to pay the full cost of replacing personal belongings as the Nation’s policy will not apply.
Prior to 2020, the Nation was covering the cost of insurance claims below the deductible amount (which used to be lower). This was found to be in violation of section 10.2 of the Housing Policy: “The Member, and not the Nation, will be responsible for the deductible portion of any insurance claim.”
Being prepared with a contents insurance policy can help make situations less stressful so that Members are not responsible for paying the full costs of replacing their personal belongings. The details of the deductible would depend on which provider and policy you choose. Every Members’ circumstances are unique with regards to the types of belongings they need to protect. Therefore, the Nation is unable to recommend a specific policy or vendor for contents insurance.
The Nation can subsidize contents insurance for Members who are low income. Contact insurance@squamish.net to learn more.
Nation Updates
Letter from Nexwsxwníw̓ntm ta Úxwumixw | Update on Squamish Nation Distribution Program
To the Squamish People, The Squamish Nation Council is pleased to announce approval for a special payment, again this year, ahead of the holidays.
2024 Office Holiday Closure
Squamish Nation offices will be closed for the holidays starting on Friday, December 20, 2024 and they will re-open on Thursday, January 2, 2025. Regular programs and services may not be running, but there are still many supports available to Members in need. Please reach out if you need support.
