Tiny homes project brings shelter and skills to Indigenous communities

TINY hOMESPROJECT bRINGSShElTERANDSkIllS TO INDIGENOuSCOMMuNITIES

The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission’s (SATCC) tiny homes project is aimed to give indigenous apprentices experience in the skilled trades through hands-on learning, while bringing new housing opportunities to indigenous communities. seen here is a tiny home at the English river first nation.

thirty-two brand-new homes stand in Indigenous communities today thanks to more than 130 apprentices and students that took part in the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission’s (SATCC) tiny homes project.

“This allowed us to take the job site and make it the classroom,” says Jayson Noel, the program manager and business development community partner at Your Choice Homes, a partner and contractor for some of the builds during the project.

The project, launched by the SATCC in 2021 with funding from the Government of Saskatchewan, aimed to give Indigenous apprentices experience in the skilled trades through hands-on learning, while bringing new housing opportunities to Indigenous communities. Apprentices and students worked alongside an experienced journeyperson, like the ones from Your Choice Homes, to build a tiny home in their community.

“These youth are putting on their toolbelt and their community watches them out there at the job site every day,” says Noel. “This is one of their first job experiences and they’re taking it seriously.”

The SATCC invited Indigenous stakeholders such as economic development authorities, housing agencies, Indigenous communities and employers to apply for funding for the building of tiny houses or similar single unit dwellings in Indigenous communities in Saskatchewan. Applications were accepted in 2021 with the hope of building at least 10 tiny homes by mid-2022.

By the end of the project, 32 tiny homes had been built in 22 Indigenous communities.

The project was embraced by communities, partners, and participants with all involved seeing the positive benefits. Communities welcomed the new housing and skills training opportunities. Students and apprentices learned valuable skills in carpentry, electrical, and plumbing and experienced work in the skilled trades.

“The community is so encouraging towards these youth. For these young people to be a part of the construction of their community, you can see the pride of the community and the pride of the parents watching their kids take part,” says Noel.