Del: "listen to their stories"
Episode notes
The full interview with Del, of the Dakelh or Carrier Nation. Del is the Vice-President of VANDU and the President of the Western Aboriginal Harm Reduction Society (or WAHRS). Something that is implicit in everything she does and says is the idea that you cannot do research, educate others, or build a movement without understanding the people. Relationship is central to her work with WAHRS and VANDU, and she has impressed upon me the requirement that research be in dialogue with, and centre the voices of, those facing the sharp end of the housing crisis. I got to sit on the back patio at VANDU with Del, with a soundscape of crows and helicopters, and have a conversation on June 10, 2026. In this conversation, we talk about the legal battle facing two members of the Drug User Liberation Front (or DULF), why the work of Our Homes Can’t Wait feels overwhelming, Ken Sim’s mayoralty, FIFA’s impact on the DTES, and the poor quality and provision of affordable housing in Vancouver. Huge thanks to Del; I hope you enjoy.
Image: VANDU Archives