PRESS RELEASE
Thursday, August 17, 2023, Coquitlam, BC – kʷikʷəƛ̓əm (Kwikwetlem) First Nation is deeply saddened to announce the tragic death of our beloved Councillor and community member, Stephanie Patterson. Stephanie is survived by three children.
Stephanie was elected as a Councillor on April 1, 2023, and was to serve a four-year term until March 31, 2027. She was appointed to lead our Community Services Division which includes Housing and Maintenance, Health, Education, Careers and Training and Culture and Language.
“Stephanie was a keen learner and was excited about embarking in her new role as an elected Councillor,” said Chief Ron Giesbrecht. "She was passionate about helping all members of our community - our children, youth, adults and Elders - and to improving community participation and engagement to help create a vibrant and self-governing Nation.”
Councillor George Chaffee said, “Stephanie’s vision for the future was to create greater cultural knowledge and economic prosperity for the people of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation. She will be deeply missed by kʷikʷəƛ̓əm Leadership and to all who knew her.”
Prior to assuming her role as a Councillor, Stephanie worked for six years at Saskay Land Development on setɬamékmən (Coquitlam I.R. #2). She also supported the Nation’s archeological work for Brown & Oakes Archaeology and provided community support for our Elders.
While her roots are from the Musqueam First Nation, Stephanie married a kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation member, David Hall, with whom she had three children and later separated from. Stephanie transferred from Musqueam First Nation in 2016 and became a member of kʷikʷəƛ̓əm First Nation.
Stephanie was a survivor of the “Sixties Scoop” - a period when Indigenous children were forcibly removed from their birth families. She grew up in several foster homes and had been adopted twice. Her past created a resilient and dedicated spirit which she brought to her role as a Councillor and to her family and to her community.
At this point, the Nation has no public comment regarding the arrest and charge of David Hall in conjunction with her murder and is asking for privacy in respect to our grieving community.
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For more information please contact:
communications@kwikwetlem.com