Shuswap Indian Band, Tobacco Plains Indian Band, Akisq’nuk and ʔaq̓am Community are working with BC Housing on a new project to improve the quality of on-reserve homes in the East Kootenay area.
Under the three-year agreement, BC Housing commits to help the three bands maintain housing that meets or exceeds industry standards for safety, durability, accessibility, healthy living and energy efficiency. BC Housing will provide training and education to strengthen expertise within the community to manage their supply of housing over the long term.
The bands will work together to secure third-party capital funding for on-reserve housing renewal and to support culturally appropriate economic, social and environmentally sustainable housing.
The agreement is part of a larger asset management initiative that includes financial support from the Trust and Indigenous Services Canada. The initiative is the first of its kind in Canada and expected to be a model for future approaches to First Nations asset management.
“We are very pleased to partner to support the efforts of First Nations communities to provide quality affordable housing. Our funding will help provide training and other tools requested by the communities,” said Johnny Strilaeff, President and CEO, Columbia Basin Trust.
Read the full release from the Province here.