Dene First Nations seek locally-inspired housing solutions

As First Nations communities across the country face housing crises, two Dene communities in northern Manitoba are hoping to deal with their problems by creating their own solutions.

These plans are being led by the elders and the youth from the communities who say what works for southern Manitoba First Nations will not work for northern communities because of their location.

"When we get housing, there is always a blueprint, and it's something that is done for us," said Joe Antsanen, chief of the Northlands Denesuline First Nation.

The First Nation, along with the Sayisi Dene First Nation, took part in a collaborative research project with the University of Manitoba to address housing needs in the North.

"This is based on our community, what they see, what they live on a day-to-day basis," said Antsanen.

He hopes northern communities such as the Northlands Denesuline First Nation start using locally-sourced materials to build homes in the near future.

Solutions being brought forward by the Dene youth include a shift toward energy-efficient housing using solar panels and geothermal technology, which they say will cut housing costs.

The communities also hope the research project inspires their youth to take on careers in architecture, trades and engineering in the future.

End result of the project

The project has been 10 years in the making, inspired by health officials looking at high rates of tuberculosis in the communities.

"There's health issues, there's mould problems, respiratory problems, skin problems," said Antsanen.

He said the health problems in his community are due to inadequate housing.

"Some families are living in three-bedroom homes with 17 to 18 members in that one bungalow with three bedrooms," said Antsanen.

Sekuwe: My House, a book released in Winnipeg this week, is the end result of the research project. It describes what life is like for the communities of Sayisi Dene First Nation and the Northlands Denesuline First Nation, as well as delving into the history of the communities.  

"It's based on the livelihood of our culture, our way of living, how we take care of our meat, smoked fish and so forth," said Antsanen.

It also includes the housing ideas brought forward by the community.

He believes the overcrowded housing forces Dene people into municipalities and towns, which forces their people to the edges of society.

He hopes the book will be a first step towards addressing the housing crisis in his own community.