“Big Sky” idea becomes a reality to aid community wellness

A “big sky” idea from Blue Quills First Nations College in St.Paul will help address the housing shortage in rural Alberta.

Every project launched by the college begins with a “big sky” idea, says the college’s website and that certainly seems to be the case here. Brent Collins, one of the college instructors and a former log-home builder, realized he could be part of a project to teach people to build homes.

“The developers of this program believe that house-ownership, having your own home, is an important part of independence and development of an individual. A sense of well-being and healing come from ownership,” said Murray Browne, business and economic development liaison with the college, who noted that every program at the college has integrated First Nations cultural components.

The project has been aptly named Creating Home – Reclaiming the Self.

A prototype log-house was built on campus and funding of more than $1.6 million was provided through the Rural Alberta Development Fund.

“The Creating Home – Reclaiming the Self project is multi-faceted in that it functions as a social enterprise to assist Aboriginal youth in learning trades and provides a practical, innovative approach to quality-of-life issues facing Aboriginal communities,” said Jann Beeston, RADF chair, in a news release. “Creating these rural economic development training tools will allow for creating best practices for rural and First Nations economic development in the areas of housing and healing.”

The project has the support of the seven bands – Beaver Lake, Cold Lake, Frog Lake, Kehewin, Saddle Lake and Whitefish Lake.

The program will focus on the healing needs of the at-risk unemployed through the carpentry skills training program. At least 10 students will be accepted each year, earning a salary while learning a new trade. The first part of the program will be used to build log homes and cabins that can be sold to generate additional revenue. Negotiations for the first house purchase are already in process, said Browne.

“We have to produce a top notch product consistently. If the customers are satisfied, we will develop a reputation that we provide good products,” he said.

At the same time, students are trained by learning new work and life skills.

Prof. Ralph Boder, from the Dept. of Social Work at the University of Calgary will provide follow-up and evaluation of the program’s effectiveness and impact on communities.

Healing, wellness and a sense of purpose could come from this program, said Browne.

“When an individual can be trained to build a home, and build it well, the hope of building his or her own home one day can become a reality. Through such home-ownership, healing will come,” he said.