Projects trains and houses people in Flying Dust

A housing project for the Elders of Flying Dust First Nation
in Saskatchewan has created opportunities for Flying Dust First Nation youth to
obtain training and skills in building and ensures the homes are both
adequately built and meets the needs of the community.

Flying Dust First Nation, located 300 km northwest of
Saskatoon, and Habitat for Humanity Canada hosted an All Chiefs Build of a
10-unit Elders’ lodge. It was the start of a partnership between Chief Richard
Gladue, his council and Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster.

“We are very proud to partner with Habitat to find
sustainable and affordable housing solutions for our community,” said Chief
Gladue. “This project will enable us to provide suitable housing for our Elders
and assist young families in realizing their own dreams of homeownership.”

The lodge is named Kikinaw,
the Cree word for Our Home. Over the
past eight years, Habitat’s Aboriginal Housing Program has built more than 100
homes for First Nation families.

The lodge broke ground in May and once built, the homes
currently occupied by Elders can be retrofitted for other families in the
community, helping to improve living conditions through good housing and
enabling access to a significant asset that would be otherwise out of reach,
reads a press statement. The project also creates opportunities for youth to
obtain skills.

Since its inception in 2007, Habitat's Aboriginal Housing
Program has worked to address housing affordability issues faced by Aboriginal
families in Canada.

In 2011, Habitat signed an agreement with the Assembly of
First Nations with the ultimate goal of increasing First Nations’ involvement
in Habitat projects and enhancing opportunities for First Nations people to
further their knowledge and skills applicable to all dimensions of housing,
while adding to the housing stock.