Photo: First Nations Housing Conference organizer Clarence Meekis was on hand at the Valhalla Inn Tuesday for the opening of the three-day gathering. / Sandi Krasowski, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
By Sandi Krasowski
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The Chronicle-Journal
This year’s First Nations Housing Conference is highlighting partnerships to address the never-ending challenge of community housing.
“Housing is a challenge, and there’s never enough actual housing units for people to live in,” said conference organizer Clarence Meekis, who is the technical manager for Keewaytinook Okimakanak tribal council. “There’s not enough money to be shared from funding agencies, and we often have a common problem of inadequately built housing in our communities.”
Meekis said this year’s conference theme — Stronger Alliances, Stronger Homes — highlights how First Nations are building strategic partnerships with industries and governments to create resilient communities.
“It takes everyone working together, and even to the point of calling each other out for the way we do things and wanting to do things better. We want the best for our community members . . . and our goal is to learn to work together wherever we are, to bring better homes for our communities.”
The 23rd annual First Nations Housing Conference got underway on Tuesday at the Valhalla Inn. The event has grown into Canada’s largest and longest-running housing conference and serving as a national showcase for First Nations’ professional excellence and organizational success.
This year’s conference is the largest yet, featuring an extensive array of technical workshops and administrative training sessions that showcase the professional capacity within First Nations. Meekis says the conference serves as a primary driver in addressing housing challenges across Canada through a First Nations-led approach, and is directed by a working group with representatives from 10 tribal councils.
The conference will draw more than 300 delegates from Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Quebec, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. A massive trade show will feature more than 70 suppliers and First Nations-oriented businesses.
Also featured is the Builders Challenge: Focus on Youth, which offers a hands-on look at modern construction. Technical experts demonstrate high-performance building skills in timed competitions. This year’s event is facilitated by students and teachers from the Indigenous Skills Trades Training Program, a partnership with Matawa First Nation, Lakehead Public School Board and the Greenstone District School Board.
“It’s always important to include youth,” said Meekis. “Today they’ll be in their own space, learning construction techniques from a group of skilled people.”
The housing conference key sponsor this year is EA Northern Contractors, which is a new company building homes in northern communities. Chief executive officer Faron Buckler said the conference builds a whole area for networking.
“It’s a place to talk about some of the troubles that we’ve had along the way with flying materials up to these communities, how the winter roads affect the delivery of the materials and the labour shortage,” said Buckler. “We’ve got some good ideas that we’ve implemented, and the big thing is working with the communities. It’s not something where we just show up andbuild. We have to work with community leaders. And that’s important.”
Buckler added that they attended the conference to talk with the community leaders and show them the things that they’ve done and implemented that have helped the communities.
The conference continues today, with the Community Housing Recognition Awards taking place this evening. The awards will showcase the accomplishments of nine communities whose achievements have improved the lives of those in their home communities, and across the nation.