The construction of a $ 20 million modular housing factory is underway in Kirkland Lake, and looks unique.
The Guardians of the Circle, operated by the Native Temiskaming Support Group, is building the 24,000 square feet factory with the hope of bringing more sustainable and lasting houses to the communities of the first nations in northern Ontario.
“Our goal is that our local indigenous communities in the north benefit from these homes. We know that many communities are experiencing overcrowding, they are experiencing mold problems due to the continuous flood of their homes,” said Bertha Cormier, executive director of the Circle Guardians.
The project, which aims to help indigenous women build races in construction, began a few years ago when the indigenous group was associated with Taketree Passive Homes, a company that specializes in prefabricated households with low consumption with headquarters in southern Ontario.
Support for indigenous women in construction
In the fall of 2022, six indigenous women were sent to Baysville for three months to be trained by the company to make housing construction panels for a 600 square -foot house that was built in Temiskaming.
“These women had no previous experience in construction with tools or even how to read a measurement tape,” he said.
“They built the walls, the roof and the panels of the floor. And then they brought the panels back to the district and gathered the house the last week of January 2023”.
Cormier said the house is completely out of the network, solar energy with a compositional toilet without water and a collection system to supply water for washing.
After seeing the success in the construction of the first house, Cormier said that the guardians of the circle decided to expand and build their own factory to serve north of Ontario.
The factory will be connected to an administrative building of 10,000 square feet through a Breezeway. It will spoil a nursery in the place capable of accommodating up to 30 children, a cultural room and a personal kitchen. There will also be six rooms dedicated to homes to women who cannot travel to and from work.
“We have one that comes from Moosonee. So, when working, you can live directly on the site and then travel home on the weekend until you find suitable homes in the district,” said Cormier.
Since the beginning of the project, which is funded by the Corporation of Mortgages and Housing of Canada, another 12 indigenous women have received construction training and will be offered in the factory, said Cormier.
“Many of these women are young women, who just start families or have not even started their families. And see that empowerment they feel when they say: ‘Hey, we did it, we built this house, we did this,’ it is really inspiring to see,” he said.
These indigenous women joined the project after participating in a skill training program prior to eight -week employment called culture, trust and competition, also known as the “Triple C program.”
“These women who enter our triple C program are unemployed or underemployed or at risk of not being homes,” said Cormier.
She said the program helps young people reconnect with their culture and prepare to enter the workforce.
The program “helps to develop their trust to make them competent employees. Therefore, during the eight weeks of training in skills prior to employment, when appearing every day on time, returning after their time of lunch, they are already preparing,” said Cormier.
Sustainable construction materials
Cormier said he hopes that the factory fosters a change towards more sustainable materials in housing construction.
“When we think of our conventional stick constructions, the typical option is spray foam or fiberglass batting insulation. Our panels will be built with cellulose,” he said, referring to a vegetable fiber made of paper and recycled cardboard, “also, ensuring that all seams, all cracks, all craings in the home are correctly sealed.”
Cormier said the houses could help reduce the cost of public services invoices, since heat would not escape, and specifically refers to the elderly in the communities of the first nations that have a budget, paying high rental layers and high bills of public services.
“As an indigenous person, we always talk about waiting for seven generations, and these houses that we are building will definitely be present after seven generations. Therefore, it is a good opportunity for us to walk the talk.”
Kirkland Lake Mayor Stacy Wight said the city sold the land to the guardians of the circle for $ 1 by acre last summer “to take concrete steps towards reconciliation with the peoples that were first here.”
“They have almost established a precedent for other municipalities to really intensify.” Cormier said. “It is important, it is huge and we are very grateful for our association with the city of Kirkland Lake.”
The houses will not be strictly for indigenous or first nation communities, and will also be available to the public market, added Cormier.
The factory will be operational before July 1 of next year.
