Participating First Nations
Miawpukek First Nation
Miawpukek First Nation is a Mi`kmaq community located on the south coast of the island part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It is located about 224 km from the nearest service center, the international airport town of Gander.
The community was originally used as one of many semi-permanent camping sites by Miawpukek’s ancestors, who were nomadic people that travelled throughout Newfoundland, Labrador, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Maine. According to traditional oral history, Miawpukek became a permanent community around 1822. The reserve was established in 1870, and officially designated as Samiajij Miawpukek Indian Reserve under the Indian Act in 1987.
Since 1987, Miawpukek has gone from a poor, isolated community with almost 90 per cent unemployment to a strong vibrant community with nearly 100 per cent full-time/part-time employment. Miawpukek’s membership is approximately 2,600 with more than 800 people living in the Mi’kmaq community.
“The Fund’s Credit Enhancement Facility will provide options, with ease for my members to not only construct new homes, but obtain loans to renovate their existing homes.”
—– Chief Misel Joe (February 2009)
Contact Information:
Tracy Howse
Housing Manager
P.O. Box 10
Conne River, NL
A0H 1J0
Ph.: 709-882-2470
Fax: 709-882-2292
Email: thowse@mfngov.ca
Membertou First Nation
Named after the Grand Chief Membertou (1510-1611) the Membertou First Nation belongs to the greater tribal group of the Mi’kmaw Nation. Membertou is situated 3 kms from the heart of the city of Sydney, Nova Scotia, within its tribal district of Unama’ki (Cape Breton). It is one of five Mi’kmaw communities in Cape Breton, and one of 13 in the Province of Nova Scotia. Membertou is an urban First Nation community consisting of more than 1,150 band members — approximately 750 of which live on reserve.
In 1995, the Membertou Band faced significant challenges including, financial difficulties, low morale, and a high unemployment rate. It was then that Chief Terrance Paul decided it was time for a major change. With great determination, he and the council recruited band members that had previously left the reserve years to pursue an education and were now employed in senior positions in both private business and government off reserve.
This newly formed leadership decided that an unprecedented approach for Membertou was needed and it began by putting its financial house in order while embracing transparency and accountability. Although these tasks required sacrifice, they generated a renewed sense of accomplishment and discipline that quickly earned the respect of external parties in government and industry.
The First Nation has since formed lucrative partnerships with private industry and is the first Aboriginal government in the world to meet the ISO quality management standards. Strong leadership and strategic decision-making have lead to new opportunities, which continue to build momentum for Membertou’s aspirations of financial independence and self-determination.
. “We believe that our agreement with the First Nations Market Housing Fund will give band members more choices when it comes to building or renovating their home and we look forward to working with the First Nations Market Housing Fund and our band members.”
—– Chief Terrance Paul (July 2009)
Contact Information
Jennifer Martin
Policy Coordinator
111 Membertou Street
Membertou, Nova Scotia
B1S 2M9
Ph.: 902-564-6466 Ext. 2510
Fax: 902-539-6645
Email: jennifermartin@membertou.ca
Lac La Ronge Indian Band
Located in north-central Saskatchewan, the Lac La Ronge Indian Band is the largest First Nation in Saskatchewan, and one of the 10 largest in Canada. With a population of approximately 8,800, Lac La Ronge is a multi-community Band with six communities and 18 reserves extending from rich farmlands in central Saskatchewan, north through the boreal forest to the mighty Churchill River and beyond. The communities of Stanley Mission, Grandmother's Bay, and Little Red River are all self-administered, ensuring greater control over the delivery of programs and services. Hall Lake and Sucker River are administered through a central administration office located in La Ronge, 241 km north of Prince Albert, on the edge of the Pre-Cambrian Shield.
Lac La Ronge has a history of innovative programming and economic development successes that continue to provide opportunities for their members today. Kitsaki Management owns and has investments in several companies and strives to employ band members. In 2004/05, Lac La Ronge received national recognition after it developed and began operating the first formal on-reserve home ownership program in Saskatchewan. The communities are proud of their heritage and Cree language and of the educational opportunities and social development work made possible by many years of strong leadership.
"The Lac La Ronge Indian Band is always looking for new and innovative ways to financially help its membership, and the Fund represents a good opportunity as an additional resource to help our members construct new homes or renovate existing homes on reserve.“
—– Chief Tammy Cook-Searson (July 2009)
Contact Information:
Blake Charles
Executive Director
Box 480
La Ronge, Saskatchewan
S0J 1L0
Ph.: 306-425-2183 x299
Fax: 306-425-2590
Email: bcharles@llrib.ca
Batchewana First Nation
The Batchewana First Nation of Ojibways is located on the north-eastern corner of Lake Superior and the St. Mary’s River area, adjacent to the City of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. The First Nation has a total population of 2,400, of which approximately 72 per cent live off-reserve.
Batchewana First Nation is comprised of four reserve communities: Rankin Reserve, Goulais Bay Reserve, Obadjiwan Reserve, and Whitefish Island Reserve. The administrative offices are located on Rankin Reserve, which is bordered on three sides by the city of Sault Ste. Marie. Facilities operated by the First Nation include an Administration/Cultural Centre, Health Centre, Family Crisis Shelter, Elders’ Complex, Day Care, Arena, Youth Centre, Police Station, Gas Bar, Confectionary Store and the Batchewana Learning Centre.
Batchewana First Nation’s business operations are comprised of Arena operations, building and equipment rental enterprises, and community operations, including Bingo. Economic development ventures range from renewable energy initiatives, including wind and solar power generation, to sustainable agriculture initiatives. Leadership has taken a principled approach to development, ensuring economic gain will not supersede the integrity of the environment or its protection.
Batchewana First Nation has a highly-developed housing program which acknowledges that members have differing needs and it attempts to accommodate as many situations as possible. This has led to the creation of multiple options, both market-based and social in nature.
The community intends to use the First Nations Market Housing Fund to make it easier for its members to access housing loans on reserve, to purchase and/or renovate existing homes, and to build new homes.
"The First Nations Market Housing Fund is a real indicator in our minds that Canada is serious about improving the quality of life for First Nations people across Canada. We commend Canada’s funding initiative and look forward to working collaboratively fulfilling our peoples housing needs”
—– Chief Dean Sayers (February 2010)
Contact Information:
Cathy Connor
Chief Administrative Officer
236 Frontenac Street
Sault Ste. Marie, ON
P6A 5K9
Ph.: 705-759-0914
Fax: 705-759-9171
Email: cathy@batchewana.ca
Onion Lake Cree Nation
Onion Lake Cree Nation (OLCN) straddles the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta in Treaty 6 territory, 50 kilometers north of Lloydminster, Saskatchewan. The total population of the Cree Nation is 4,780 citizens.
The community is located on fertile, rolling hills that are prime for agricultural use, and beneath the surface there is proven production from oil and gas fields. As a result, the community has entered into several long-term economic sector partnerships to take sustainable development advantage of these natural resources. The process is guided by community and strong governance mechanisms based on Cree Worldview.
Chief Wallace Fox recently announced a major commitment to improve and support housing and infrastructure for OLCN members. The First Nation recently completed a 58-unit project and is currently constructing 41 on-reserve housing units, renovating a school, and upgrading water and sewer infrastructure. These community capital projects are being financed through a combination of private and public sources, which is considered a best practice for First Nation development.
In addition to partnering with the Fund, Onion Lake has made the commitment to assist members in home renovations and mortgaging homes. As well, OLCN is assisting members wishing to become homeowners by making a capital contribution toward establishing a Home Mortgage Trust, and by granting a portion of the down payment for members who qualify for loans, through a private lender program.
“This is a proud and empowering moment for our people and community. We have been advocating for many years about our nation’s ability to become self-reliant and govern on accountability and transparency in our opportunities to become self-sufficient. Housing is always a top priority, along with related employment and training, to become a proud work-force and enable our citizens to contribute within our local and mainstream economy. On behalf of my Elders, leadership, staff and people, we stand proud to be in a true partnership with the First Nations Market Housing Fund.”
—– Chief Wallace Fox (February 2010)
Contact Information:
Winston Walkingbear
Director of Operations
Box 610
Onion Lake, SK
S0M 2E0
Ph.: 306-344-4200
Fax: 306-344-2286
Email: winston.walkingbear@onionlake.ca
Sagamok Anishnawbek
Sagamok Anishnawbek is an Ojibway, Odawa, and Pottawatami community located on the north shore of Lake Huron, approximately 120 km west of Sudbury, Ontario. The area is known for its natural beauty characterized by boreal forest, many lakes and rivers, and rocky shores. A signatory to the Robinson – Huron Treaty of 1850, the community’s traditional territory is historically significant as a transportation hub and for its role in the development of the fur trade. Sagamok has a population of 2,500, of which 1,400 live on reserve.
The community is situated within one of the most active mineral resource areas in Canada. In recent years mineral exploration activity in Sagamok's traditional territory has increased significantly with the staking of mining claims by several companies. The community is notable for its members’ heavy involvement in forestry and for having signed an Impacts and Benefits Agreement with a nickel mining company in order to ensure economic benefits are shared and environmental stewardship is followed on Sagamok’s traditional territory.
The community has a significant on-reserve population and with the promise of more jobs coming to Sagamok in the near future, providing options for adequate housing is a priority of community leadership. In addition to new, single family dwellings, one option being considered is a large, multi-unit complex. Renovation loans backed by the Fund will help to ensure the life spans of existing homes are carefully managed and maximized.
Sagamok is affiliated with the North Shore Tribal Council and the Union of Ontario Indians.
“Affordable and adequate housing is always a top priority within our community. Sagamok Anishnawbek’s partnership with the First Nations Market Housing Fund is a great step toward creating more housing opportunities for our community members and we look forward to working with the First Nations Market Housing Fund to help remove some of the barriers that exist which prevent our community members from owning homes and obtaining loans.”
—
Chief Paul Eshkakogan (May 2010)
Contact Information:
Brenda Rivers
Director of Operations
Sagamok Anishnawbek
P.O. Box 610
Massey, ON P0P 1P0
Ph.: 705-865-2421
Fax: 705-865-3307
Email: rivers_Brenda@sagamok.ca