Atikameksheng housing sets new standard
Special to Anishinabek News
ATIKAMEKSHENG — A modest four-plex in this First Nation just west of Sudbury is being hailed as an important step forward in addressing chronic housing issues for First Nations across Canada.
“It was a long winter,” Chief Steve Miller said. “It was challenging, at times, but we did succeed. And this document is not only for our community to better our housing standards but can be shared with other communities to access and use as a template towards the development of their own standards. It will provide a healthier home, a home that will last longer and one that is more energy efficient. It took dedication and perseverance to make this program a reality.”
The “program” was a partnership that included the Mike Holmes Foundation and the Assembly of First Nations in building the first housing units using new First Nations Sustainable Development Standards as the guide.
Using a new type of concrete, the homes are resistant to mould and fire, and were built using non-toxic materials.
The standard is more than just a building code, says Irving Leblanc, associate director of housing, infrastructure and emergency issues with the Assembly of First Nations.
“It’s not just about how you build a house, it’s how you build a community, how you plan a community and move it away from flood plains,” Leblanc said during a July 11th ceremony unveiling the new units.
“It’s a great document that really looks at all aspects of community planning.”
The First Nations Sustainable Development Standards incorporate green technologies, clean energy and new innovative housing materials, and encompass and integrates the natural environment as well as First Nation concepts of the importance of the extended family, health and traditional social systems. The project will also lead to a “Centre of Excellence” where best practices and lessons learned can be made available to all First Nations.
The standard has been in the works since 2010, when Atikameksheng Anishnawbek was picked for the pilot project to work with the Holmes Group to build the units. It was developed over a three-year period, and includes such principles as assessing the best location for the homes, identifying training needs for local residents, addressing financing issues, and identifying the most suitable building materials for the particular area.
The project was called “G’WIIGWAAMNAANIIN” — Building Homes and Building Skills.
John Beaucage praised the initiative, but the chair of trustees of the First Nations Market Housing Fund took the opportunity to express frustration with the chronic problems First Nations face to get funding to build a home. His daughter has started building her home next to his in Wasauksing First Nation, even though she is still waiting for funding a year after applying.
“And my daughter is a schoolteacher -– she has been for five years and she makes a good income,” said Beaucage, a former Chief of his community and Grand Council Chief for 39 Anishinabek Nations. “The First Nations Market Housing Fund is working to speed up the approvals process to a matter of days.”
“Never mind this months and months or years and years. We have to get rid of this slow and archaic way that Indian Affairs forces us to do things. And part of doing that is through the development of these (housing) standards.”
Patrick Madahbee, current Anishinabek Grand Council Chief, said the cycle of First Nations people living in substandard housing – only to be replaced by more substandard housing – must end. He’s not aware of any First Nation in Canada that doesn’t have a long waiting list of people waiting for homes.
“And what this does is get to the heart of (how) we can get these people good quality housing,” Madahbee said. “Atikameksheng Anishnawbek needs to be congratulated for this project, as well as all the partners involved.”
Madahbee agreed with Beaucage that the approvals process must be reformed to speed up the process, and to raise available funding beyond the $35,000 currently allocated to First Nations homebuilding applicants.
“Every year, building costs and the costs of labour increase, but the funding has stayed the same for years. In fact, here in Ontario, capital funding has been almost non-existent.
“And As we’ve seen in the past, when things aren’t built to standard, the housing doesn’t last long.”
While TV homebuilding personality Mike Holmes was unable to attend the ceremony, daughter Amanda read a statement from him saying:“I’m proud of what we accomplished here. It shows what you can do when you work together as a team and make it right. This project was about making better choices, doing what makes sense, building smart and teaching the First Nations how to do it — like using products that will not mould and that help keep a home safe and healthy, not to mention the families living in them, too.”