Ground broken for Flying Dust's Habitat for Humanity project
- EFN Staff | May 05, 2015
Habitat for Humanity in Lloydminster and Flying Dust First Nation created history at the ground breaking of the first ever on-reserve Habitat build, a 10-unit Elders Lodge. The complex will be named “Kikinaw” the Cree word for “Our Home”, a name chosen by the Elders of Flying Dust.
The Ground Breaking welcomed dignitaries: the Elders of Flying Dust, Chief Richard Gladue and Council of Flying Dust, Chief Eric Sylvestre, Vice Chief Bobby Cameron with FSIN, and several of the Chiefs of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, esteemed members of the media and the community members of the Flying Dust First Nation and the City of Meadow Lake.
In keeping with the memorandum of understanding signed with the Assembly of First Nations in 2011, Habitat for Humanity has been working with Aboriginal communities in Canada to find ways to serve families living on reserves, while respecting the unique land regime challenges associated with traditional territories.
As part of its comprehensive community plan, Flying Dust’s housing program intends to make home ownership possible for its members. As part of the strategy, there was an immediate need to address the housing, health and wellness of the Elders. The concept of “housing continuum”, which is available in most Canadian communities, does not currently exist on First Nation Land. The partnership between Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster and Flying Dust First Nation is taking a comprehensive approach to resolve the shortfall of housing on Flying Dust First Nation in a sustained manner by building a 10-unit Elders Lodge so that current residences can be retrofitted and made available for families.
It is with great pride that we announce today the following strong, community minded partners who have already stepped forward to assist with this project.
Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster and Flying Dust First Nation are extremely proud of the support, both financially and in-kind, of SIGA, Flying Energy Ltd Partnership, and Enbridge Inc.
Habitat for Humanity Lloydminster has been building homes in partnership with provincial and municipal governments, volunteers, partner families, business leaders and community-minded service organizations since 1999. Habitat Lloydminster sees safe, decent, affordable housing for our partner families not only as a product, but also as a process of building and sustaining better communities for all.
Related story: Flying Dust announces partnership with Habitat for Humanity
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