First Nations Food, Water and housing Crisis

THE CRISIS 

The ongoing housing, water, and food crisis throughout the First Nation's communities in North America continues to need social, economic, and health reforms and solutions. Housing shortages lead to overcrowding. Contaminated water leads to health issues that affect people, animals, and the environment. High costs of food and medicine create stress and social injustices that have led to increases in heart disease, addictions, diabetes to suicide epidemics in First Nations communities where these conditions exist.

In the Northern Regions of Canada, food prices are astronomical. Some communities have paid $104 dollars for a 24-pack of water to $70 dollars for a watermelon. By the time perishable products reach the North, half of it is rotten. Most of the foods consumed are highly processed for an extra-long shelf-life but fall short of nutrition and quality. Processed foods lead to many of the health issues that plague the communities.


In regards to housing, there is major underfunding. The waiting lists for houses to be built are years long, and some people wait their entire life. Then there are contractors coming into the community who take shortcuts and buy the cheapest material possible. There are cases due to shoddy construction where homes are going mouldy within four years. Long waiting lists for repairs due to underfunding result in houses becoming uninhabitable.


The water crisis in many First Nations communities across the country is due to resource and hydro development mismanagement. These extraction processes are contaminating the watersheds. Currently, we have 67 first nations communities on boil water advisories.

KIKIWAK FIRST NATIONS SOCIETY MISSION FOR CREATING SOLUTIONS


There are 3rd world conditions throughout the First Nations Communities in North America. Kikiwak advocates for solutions to the various crises First Nation communities are facing using principles, technologies, and practices such as; sustainable building constructions; regenerative land development and management; traditional indigenous permaculture; hands-on workshops in land guardianship and traditional knowledge techniques; work-share and exchange programs; a video reference library.

It is part of our mission to bring about solutions that actively resolve and deal with the issues that plague our communities. As well as start a Land Guardian movement working closely with other communities across Turtle Island and applying environmentally sound practices it is our goal to advance economic prosperity, peaceful co-existence with the natural world and genuine respect and caring for all living and non-living beings.


Beginning with construction and building concepts we will be using principles already implemented by communities around the world. It is a fully self-sustainable ecosystem, from harnessing rainwater to be used for showering and other needs to filtration of grey water to water plants in greenhouses specially designed for Northern climates and cold weather.

We had a vision of an elder being able to walk from her kitchen into her greenhouse and harvest fresh produce all year round. The greenhouse also provides passive solar heat for the home in Winter and efficiently cools the house in hot weather. The home's electricity will be generated using off-grid energy sources ensuring self-reliance and independence.


The sustainable building materials we are using are much cheaper and have fewer toxins compared to conventional materials. The methods we are using will be Cob, aircrete, and rammed earth. Rammed earth homes can easily sustain their integrity for 1000+ years, and the cob method has been used since prehistoric times. This is an opportunity for us to no longer use old-growth timber for buildings.


Through our video library and consultation, we can help communities to make informed decisions. We will provide sources of accessible, low-cost materials; resources and training for continuing a variety of construction methods; off-grid power sources that would best suit their needs for their region; training and consultation in regenerative land practices.

Kikiwak intends to devise an effective and working model for communities that will contribute to solving the ongoing food, water, housing, and health crisis in the communities.