July 21, 2010 (Winnipeg, MA) – Assembly of First Nations National Chief, Shawn A-in-chut Atleo and “Canada’s Most Trusted Contractor” Mike Holmes of “Holmes on Homes” and The Holmes Foundation, announced today at the AFN 31st Annual General Assembly a new Statement of Partnership that aims to build sustainable & efficient homes, enhance community design & planning and that utilize appropriate green technologies and clean energy sources to improve health & living conditions in First Nations communities, as well as establishing a First Nation Centre of Excellence on best practices for sustainable housing and infrastructure construction.

(Photo Courtesy Dan Jepsen, National Aboriginal Energy and Power Association)

“We are very excited to partner with Mike Holmes and The Holmes Group on this new initiative that will build homes, build skills and build better communities for First Nations people,” National Chief Atleo said. “Too many of our communities are struggling with rundown and collapsing housing and infrastructure as a result of chronic under-funding. This creates a whole spectrum of related problems, from poor health to poor performance in school and to poverty for too many of our people. Having the Holmes Group involved in this project is one step towards safer and healthier communities for our people and I commend Mike Holmes and his team for recognizing this and working with us.”

The AFN and The Holmes Group plan to select a First Nation community in Ontario as a pilot project where they will retro-fit existing housing units, construct new houses, community buildings (water and waste water systems, schools and administrative offices) and incorporate innovative and industry-leading green technologies and clean energy sources, integrated with the natural environment as well as First Nations concepts of family, health and traditions. The pilot project will lead to a First Nation Community Planning Tool that can be used by First Nations.  First Nations citizens will be involved in this work so the initiative will build skills as well as infrastructure.

“The neglect and poor conditions for housing found in many First Nations communities must be addressed immediately,” says Mike Holmes. “And for the future of our country we need to build real communities that not only serve the residents but also give back what they take from the land. Our development must take the example from the original stewards of this land whose culture is intimately connected to our natural environment and resources.”

The two parties have committed to establishing a First Nation Centre of Excellence on housing and infrastructure construction that will be under the leadership of the AFN. The First Nation Centre of Excellence will provide “best practice” guides, facilitate information exchanges both within and without First Nation communities, promote training and skill development opportunities and sustainable master planning & designs information to any First Nation community in need.

The AFN and the Holmes Group will consider which First Nation community will be the site of the pilot project over the next month.  An announcement will be made once the community is selected

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

Contact information:

Alain Garon, Bilingual Communications Officer
Assembly of First Nations
agaron@afn.ca

Liza Drozdov, Director of Communications
The Holmes Group
publicity@makeitright.ca

In 1982, the National Indian Brotherhood called for the creation of a National Aboriginal Solidarity Day to be celebrated on June 21.

The New York Times has published a very interesting article on the use of DNA in the research process that touches on a couple of issues related to our work here at ICT.

The first issue is a Western Science vs. Traditional Knowledge issue.  In the article there is discussion about the origins of the people from a scientific perspective vs. the peoples traditional view.  Note the impact that this discussion has on community members.

Second, it touches on the use of information gathered for for one purpose but then used for other purposes.  From an educational perspective there is much to think about.  The lesson for me is to be specific on forms.  There should be no “and other purposes” language on forms.  I would also want to be clear in my verbal communications with community members.  From an aboriginal rights and title consultation perspective there is some interesting areas for exploration as well.  For example, can the consultation information gathered for project X by the government then be used in making decisions for project Y and Z to fulfill legal and regulatory requirements for consultation?

Click here to have a read of the article.

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Yes it is true.  We are on Twitter with the user name wewap.  It’s new technology but we are looking forward to learning it.

ICT has added a new blog to their website!  Hopefully this will be an incredible tool to keep clients up to date.