SATCC Tiny House Project makes good progress
On a frigid day in February on the Standing Buffalo First Nation, approximately 70 kilometres northeast of Regina, Jacob Whiteman is hard at work learning what it takes to construct a tiny house. Taking a quick break to find shelter from the weather, Whiteman says overall, building the tiny house been a positive experience but laughs and adds that it's a little bit cold today.
The Standing Buffalo First Nation is one of 20 Indigenous communities participating in the Tiny House Project, led and overseen by the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC). The Standing Buffalo First Nation project kicked off on October 26, 2021, with a traditional ground blessing and breaking with students, instructors, and Elders.
The Tiny House Project primarily engages Indigenous apprentices who are working towards their journeyperson certification. They gain hands-on work experience by building tiny (modular) houses in local communities. The project is set to be completed by March 31, 2022.
Whiteman, from the Standing Buffalo First Nation, is a Grade 11 student at Lipton School and joined the Tiny House Project to gain experience in the skilled trades. Carpentry and the skilled trades are something he is passionate about and hopes to pursue a career in it after high school. “I joined [the Tiny House Project] for experience, and this is the job I want in the future,” he says. When this project is over, he also says he plans to get a part-time job in construction with his uncle.
Whiteman is one of eight people working to build the tiny house, learning skills like how to build a footing, place concrete, and construct floors and walls. Whiteman says working as a team is going smoothly.
Together with their journeyperson Carpenter instructor, they are working hard to finish the house.
In 2021, the Government of Saskatchewan provided the SATCC a total of $4.8 million in funding to deliver a tiny house initiative by the end of the 2021-22 fiscal year.
The SATCC invited Indigenous stakeholders such as economic development authorities, housing agencies, Indigenous communities and employers to apply for potential funding for the building of tiny houses, or similar housing models.
“We are excited about the opportunities that the Tiny House Project provides,” says SATCC Senior Indigenous advisor Danelle Reiss. “Not only are Indigenous apprentices gaining on-thejob skilled trades experience while working towards their journeyperson certification, it also provides valuable housing opportunities built in local communities.”
“The Tiny House Project is a great opportunity for people to work together to provide valuable skills training,” says SATCC Director of Innovation and Inclusion Chris Stubbs. “We're looking forward to the completion of the project to see the results of all the participants' hard work.”
Applications for 34 tiny homes in 20 Indigenous communities were approved. The project will offer communities new housing opportunities while raising awareness of apprenticeship and the skilled trades among Indigenous people in Saskatchewan, as well as helping Indigenous apprentices progress towards achieving journeyperson certification.
Whiteman is proud of the work he's accomplished so far. “I'm finding it rewarding. And after we're done building it, someone will be living in it,” he says. “It doesn't even feel like work. It's something that I like doing.”