When the federal government wanted help in designing its new Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative, it turned to members of the RAIC Indigenous Task Force.
?This is a new way of doing business,? says task force chair Dr. Luugigyoo Patrick Stewart, MRAIC. ?They?re reaching out. It?s exciting because we?ve never been invited before.?
In April 2019, the federal government announced that it was accepting submissions from Indigenous applicants for the $36-million Indigenous Homes Innovation Initiative. The initiative is seeking innovative ideas to improve housing in rural, urban, or remote Indigenous communities. It will fund the development of ideas and construction of the chosen projects.
Dave Pranteau Aboriginal Children?s Village (2013) in Vancouver is an example of innovative housing offering stability to youth in care.  The architect, Patrick Stewart, grew up in foster homes. Photo by George Pierce
Several members of the task force served as technical advisors to the steering committee that oversaw the design of the initiative and will select projects to be developed. The steering committee is comprised of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Nation housing experts.
The RAIC Indigenous Task Force launched in 2016 to promote Indigenous architecture in Canada and advocate alongside communities. Its 25 current members include architects, designers, academics, interns, and students.
?Honestly, $36-million is not a lot of money when it comes to the housing crisis in our Indigeno...