Nadleh Whut'en First Nation is currently building six new homes over a year after the record-breaking 2018 wildfire season.
The Nation has approximately 560 members and is located in Fort Fraser, 183 km west of Prince George.
After the Shovel Lake Wildfire and subsequent comprehensive home inspections this summer, some family homes in the community were found to have irreparable smoke and water damage and deemed unfit to live in.
In response, Nadleh Whut’en First Nation is currently in the middle of constructing two three-bedroom homes and four one-bedroom tiny homes to replace them.
“We are pleased that the gaming revenue-sharing funds are available to support our home building program,” said Chief Larry Nooski, Nadleh Whut’en First Nation in a news release.
“Over the next two years, we plan on building up to 30 new homes for our members. I applaud Premier John Horgan and First Nations leadership on getting such an important revenue-sharing agreement done this year.”
These houses are supported by funds shared as part of the province’s gaming revenue-sharing commitment.
The first six family homes will provide safe new accommodations for two families — one with a baby, the other with a toddler and a new baby on the way.
In addition, four members of the community in need of proper housing will move into the tiny homes.
“The Nadleh Whut’en home building project is great news for this community, demonstrating how a stable, predictable source of funding can bring immediate and significant benefit to people and families,” said Scott Fraser, Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation, in the release.
“Nadleh Whut’en saw a clear need for new housing and is making real changes now, but this funding also means the Nation will be able to continue making community improvements that will have a positive impact on families for generations to come.”
Overcrowding, along with ageing and deteriorating homes, is a widespread problem in the community.
Over 75 people are on a waiting list for housing in the community.
With 280 people living in Nadleh, there are only 74 homes, which results in overcrowding and maintenance issues with the housing stock.
In August 2019, the provincial government transferred nearly $200 million to the B.C. First Nations Gaming Revenue Limited Partnership, providing the first two years of shared gaming revenue available to all eligible First Nations in B.C. Distribution to individual First Nations began in October.
Nadleh Whut’en’s share of the gaming revenue is being leveraged with other sources to finance the Nadleh Housing Program.
