Visioning our Future Dwelling Together: Housing Policy in Nibinamik First Nation

Current housing systems and policies for remote and isolated First Nations in Canada produce a physical manifestation of ongoing colonialism: the house. Examinations of the physical community and the house yield an understanding of deeply systematized imperial struggles between Indigenous communities and planning as a discipline.

This project investigated the issue at three scales and produced two distinct deliverables.

First, the team constructed an overview of the urban form within Middle Canada. They familiarized themselves with the territory by creating a sample of community types within the region. As part of this process, they documented the forms that communities take, along with their demographic structure. These were presented as a catalogue.

Second, the team created case studies of best practices in design projects within Indigenous communities. These case studies informed their knowledge of what is possible through innovation in design, process and materials. They were created for use in Nibinamik and other communities.

Their work informed the strategy for the development of both a housing policy and housing system shift in Nibinamik First Nation. The team successfully distilled process-based successes into components that fit within the framework of a housing policy. They also developed an engagement strategy which allows the client First Nation to establish a housing authority and housing policy appropriate for their values and geography of the community.