Bringing on-reserve housing home

Guest blog by Dr. Sylvia Olsen

I work with a group of dedicated First Nations housing professionals developing a BC First Nations Housing and Infrastructure Authority. The goal of the Housing & Infrastructure Council (HIC) is to create a First Nation’s led institution that will take over care and control of housing and infrastructure from the federal government.

It’s about time. If there is one answer (and there is never one answer) to the very complex problem of on-reserve housing it is that government needs to get out of the business… now. We are all flabbergasted that government still controls much of First Nation’s housing delivery.

Most Canadians don’t understand how restricted housing provisions are on reserves. Canadians don’t understand that there are two very distinct housing systems in this country—one for mainstream that has made housing the most significant wealth generating tool for individuals—one for Indian reservations that has resulted in extreme poverty.

Changing on-reserve housing

So we all know it’s time to change the system. And, from its core.

Because on-reserve housing is such a failure many Canadians assume that means adopting mainstream housing methods.

Adam was raised on Tsartlip First Nation. He loves it there. I loved living in Tsartlip for 35 years. Looking from the inside there is no doubt that the housing system is a debacle. But, I remember Adam’s warning when he first heard of the housing transfer to a new Authority.

He said something like this, “Housing in the mainstream isn’t working very well either. It’s obviously better for most people, but fewer and fewer people in the mainstream are well served by the housing system. Don’t copy it! On reserve we have the opportunity to create an innovative housing system that solves on reserve housing issues and, at the same time, avoids mainstream housing issues. It’s an exciting challenge. We can do it.”