Mino Bimaadiziwin Homebuilder Program’s Impact on Sustainable Livelihoods Among Youth in Garden Hill and Wasagamack First Nations: An Evaluative Study

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Nonprofit and Social Economy Research
• Main Authors: Babajide Oni, Donna Martin, Marleny Bonnycastle, Norman Wood, Shirley Thompson
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English; French
• Published: Canadian Centre for Studies in Publishing 2023
• Subjects: Indigenous; housing crisis; healthy homes; Native reserves; sustainable livelihoods; Indian Act; First Nations; Social Sciences; H; Indian
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.29173/cjnser554; https://doaj.org/article/7da4fc3b371b4ef6adc0bda575e55f9a

The Mino Bimaadiziwin Homebuilders postsecondary education pilot project built Indigenous youth capacity and houses in two remote Anishinini reserves—Garden Hill and Wasagamack. To evaluate this community-led project, a sustainable livelihood assessment holistically measured the impact on 45 of the 70 (64%) Homebuilder students and the community. The community benefited by gaining three culturally appropriate houses built from local lumber and employment opportunities for Anishinini instructors. A longitudinal survey found five of the six livelihood assets improved statistically and significantly, including satisfaction with social relationships, cultural awareness, income and ability to pay bills, housing safety, and human development. Students reported better relations with their families and neighbourhood. Most (85%) of the 70 Homebuilder students earned postsecondary certificates either in forestry, homebuilding or both while obtaining a training stipend, which elevated their incomes. These positive outcomes occurred despite project underfunding, the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, climate change events, and inequitable housing policies under the Indian Act. Based on this project’s success, we recommend investing in Indigenous-led postsecondary education in community homebuilding projects. However, to attain equitable housing and human rights, a plan is needed to overturn the Indian Act, which keeps Indigenous people as “wards of the state” and their land in trust.