Northern First Nation sees new housing strategy as a way to 'take back sovereignty'

The snow falls lightly in Dettah, N.W.T., coveringthe steps leading up to Henry Beaulieu's two-bedroom unit, where he's lived with his wife for the past 22 years.

Once, their six children lived there as well.But they grew upand moved away,as children do.

Beaulieusaid he feels strongly that if his First Nation the Yellowknives Dene haddeveloped the vast area around Dettah to build homes for its members, his kids and his grandchildren would still be there.

"If I had my own home, none of my children would be leaving if they had houses built," he told CBC Radio's The House.

Beaulieu and his wife live in a public housing unit, owned and maintained by the housing division of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation (YKDFN).

The YKDFN is nowworking with Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the territorial Housing Corporationto see if it can access some of the $60 million put aside for the territory under the National Housing Co-investment Fund to build its own affordable housing as an unsettled First Nation.

Chief Ernest Betsinasaid the First Nationhasa vision fora better community in Dettah and its sister community ofN'dilo.

CBC News: The House10:57A First Nations housing shortage plan

Co-host Juanita Taylor speaks to NDilo Chief Ernest Betsina of the Yellowknives Dene First Nation and CEO Jason Snaggs about efforts to improve their communitys housing shortage.

"We want to be strong, for our people to be born, to be raised and basically live their whole life with the YKDFN and to contribute to the First Nation, to our dreams," he said.

"I want to see my people ... be independent."

Betsina said a lack of adequate, affordable housing is standing in the way of that.

The fund ismeant to help Indigenous communities in the N.W.T. but because it's not based ona reserve, the YKDFNfearsit might not meet the criteria.

Jason Snaggs, CEO ofYKDFN, said that if the federal government sincerelywants to improve its nation-to-nation relationship with First Nations,prioritizing Indigenous-led housing initiatives would be a goodway to do that.

"For the Yellowknives Dene First Nation, it's a form of taking back its sovereignty and its independence when it comes to housing," he said. "Successive governments have tried to more or less exert their control over the First Nation by saying, 'We are going to provide housing for you.'"

Snaggssaidthe houses provided by the federal government were built to southern standards, making theminefficient and costly to maintain.

"Our goal is to build houses that reflect the tradition and culture of the First Nation," he said.

Beaulieu's home is plagued by flaws.The floor tilesare crackingbecause poor construction causes the house to shift, he said.

"It's not very good. It's pretty drafty. There's a gap, eh? That's where the wind comes in and I have to scrape the ice off the edge of the door all the way down and the latch," he said, adding he's had to use anaxe to chip the ice away.

Despite the need for repairs, Beaulieusaid he would really like to call the house his own.

"I'm a band member owning this land. Under our treaty we're entitled to free housing and here we're paying rent," hesaid.

"I'd like to have this place rent-to-own, under our Treaty that was signed on July 25, 1900 in Fort Resolution, N.W.T. We're entitled to free housing. Transfer ownership to me because they're not fulfilling their treaty obligation."

Betsinaand Snaggs saidtheir housing strategy would address concerns they've been hearing from members of the First Nation.

"They wanted to have sweat equity built into their homes," says Snaggs."They wanted to be able to lease their homes to own it, build their own homes if they have the ability, and we provide to themthe materials, we provide to them the design. We work and ensure at the end of the day that we could generate that type of program within the community by YKDFN."

Beaulieusaid he thinks First Nations and other orders of government should pursuea territory-wide solution.

"Think big, don't think small,"he said.

In the meantime, Beaulieusaid, he'llkeep chipping the ice away from his door frame.

"The only thing I could do now is just read my Bible and ask the good Lord to bless my house, to bless my wife and bless everything that's here, what God has given us. Be content with it and be happy," he said.

"And hopefully the YKDFNand its housing division, and [theCanada Mortgage and Housing Corporation] and [the] federal government and lands department can work together."