A recent workshop in Chisasibi gathered input for an initiative exploring “Community-Led Pathways for Affordable and Resilient Housing.” The three-year project is a collaboration between the Cree Nation of Chisasibi, the Chisasibi Eeyou Resource and Research Institute (CERRI), Concordia University, and the Volt-Age Living Lab.
By combining technical solutions with community engagement and energy-planning expertise, the project addresses issues of overcrowding, aging infrastructure, high energy costs, and the impacts of harsh weather. The collaborative approach is designed to reflect the community’s unique needs, values and priorities.
“The housing situation in Chisasibi is a big problem,” said Brody Sam, a 17-year-old trainee at CERRI. “The biggest issues are mould, overcrowding and having to make additions to current housing. I’ve sometimes seen three families in one house. I heard of tenants who had to move out due to mould problems.”
A Cree Health Board housing study in 2000 documented structural damage and substandard quality stemming from the community’s relocation from Fort George Island around 1980. Damp homes and the highest rate of overcrowding in Quebec lead to respiratory problems, decreased immunity and headaches.
In 2007, Chisasibi began financing home purchases, construction or improvements; grants compensated for the high cost of materials. The First Nations Market Housing Fund stated that 1,000 units were required to resolve Chisasibi’s housing crisis.
The community’s rapid expansion can be witnessed in several new residential areas. In May, Eenou Eeyou Construction announced the launch of 25 new duplexes, including one built by students as part of a new training program.
“It provides an opportunity to develop local skilled workers while allowing learners to contribute to a project that directly benefits their own community, giving their work a strong sense of purpose,” said Raphaëlle Audet, spokesperson for project partner Hardy Construction.
Chief Daisy House said that it’s a shared goal to train more community members in home building. “From starter homes to adapted units, from tiny homes to an almshouse for those without a home, housing will always be a priority,” she affirmed.
When Concordia University contacted Chief House about an initiative to improve housing quality while reducing costs, she forwarded the file to CERRI. Sustainability specialist Jason Stevens worked with Concordia to create a project proposal, which became a training opportunity for Sam.
“We’re still in the early stages of the project, trying to build awareness on mould, what causes it and how it affects our health,” explained Sam. “We’re still trying to get information about how mould forms in these houses. Some houses are outdated. In the coming weeks, we’ll reach out to people to see if they have mould problems and work from there.”
On June 25, Sam and project lead Caroline Hachem-Vermette set up an information booth to gather perspectives about the housing situation and identify problems. Presentations focused on the building envelope, which separates the indoor living space from the outdoor environment, and explored how upgrading existing homes can result in better comfort and significant energy savings.
“The visit was helpful as a beginning to build trust, which is very important,” said Hachem-Vermette. “One of my goals is to bring the message that I’m working for the community and with them. The most important thing is to gather as much information as possible to build the first housing models in our simulation that reflect the realities there.”
Funded by a research program called Volt-Age, this is the sixth “Living Lab” in Canada where teams of Master’s students co-develop community-driven solutions to decarbonization. Integrating cutting-edge technology to create more efficient buildings and systems, the program emphasizes the unique needs of Indigenous communities.
Hachem-Vermette said they will use simulation software to create digital replicas of existing buildings to evaluate current performance. This will serve as a base to compare proposed improvements.
“The simulation is quite extensive and we have proven that it can capture the realities using the climate in the Chisasibi area,” said Hachem-Vermette. “Another thing we’ve talked about is making some experiments, both in Chisasibi as well as our environmental lab at Concordia that can measure conditions from minus-40 to plus-50 [degrees Celsius].”
The process involves regular communication between Concordia and Chisasibi to continuously add feedback and revisions to developments. As the community looks at housing problems and solutions, questions are already being raised about how regional factors may impact buildings.
“There are suspicions, not proven, that because La Grande River doesn’t freeze over anymore, it remains liquid with a vapour coming off, perhaps that is affecting the microclimate around here in some way,” said Stevens. “It’s still speculative but it is something we’re looking at.”
As the local water table is high, ditches made for drainage before construction may contribute to greater humidity if houses haven’t been built with those conditions in mind. While air exchangers and heat pumps can reduce humidity inside, Stevens suggested that they’re not always properly operated or maintained.
To keep the community walkable, new homes might build up rather than out. Stevens highlighted that storage units should be a consideration in new apartment buildings as Crees often need space for ATVs and skidoos.
The community is exploring prefabricated housing, perhaps even constructing them in Chisasibi and exporting to other Indigenous communities. As the project proceeds, it is creating career paths that will be in demand as the Cree Nation grows.
“Another thing we’re doing is training inspectors,” said Sam. “We’re trying to build a council so we can have a meeting every now and then to discuss housing problems. I’m building new connections. Caroline introduced me to maybe doing some engineering in the future.”