Found in the Clayoquot Forest Communities: green and culturally appropriate building design

With the recent spotlight on the Attawapiskat First Nation, the ongoing crisis in First Nations housing around the country is finally being given the attention it deserves. There has never been a better time to share the work being done by, and with, the Nuu-chah-nulth First Nations in Clayoquot Sound to solve their housing issues.

Recognizing that working together is the only way forward, and that solutions will come from First Nations communities, the Clayoquot Forest Communities and Ecotrust Canada are working with Nuu-chah-nulth communities in Clayoquot Sound (and other partners) to design and create green and culturally appropriate homes and community buildings. The goal is to create a housing style that meets the needs of wet, west coast living, and which factors in the economy and ecosystems of Clayoquot Sound.

The project also aims to:

• Recognize both present circumstances and future prospects;
• Embrace the wisdom to be found in traditional values and use traditional knowledge as a sound starting ground;
• Use local resources and local labour, thus building local capacity;
• Grow and restore community skills.

To this end, the design of the homes will take into account cultural design elements such as the traditional long house design; use of locally harvested and milled materials such as cedar; local geography; climate; and community demographics.

Why the need?

To combat overcrowding issues, it has been estimated that there is a need for over 350 affordable, durable homes to be built in Clayoquot’s First Nation communities over the next 10 years. Coupled with this is a desire to change how current homes are designed and built in an effort to overcome issues caused by weather, projected climate changes and recent use of poor quality, non-local materials.