Investigating Cultural Appropriateness in On-Reserve Housing in the Swan River First Nation Community

Abstract

The Indigenous housing system in Canada has been in crisis for decades. It is characterized by culturally inappropriate housing and unhealthy living conditions. This situation affects Indigenous communities all over Canada, including the Swan River Nation. As the available housing options become unlivable, overcrowding rates have been rising, and Indigenous communities have been linked to a series of social issues. In fact, Indigenous housing has been characterised for decades as substandard and hazardous to Indigenous people’s health and welfare, and this situation prevails. Although the literature establishes housing concerns in Indigenous communities, there is still little progress on the specific housing situation and particular strategies to improve homes in the Swan River Nation. This study examined the community's housing conditions and perspectives on cultural appropriateness, sustainability, prefabrication, and modularity. The methodology focused on a community-based approach and included the analysis of the literature, logical argumentation, and data from key-informant interviews and a focus group session to determine the community's concerns and housing preferences. By collecting data from legitimate community representatives, this research determined preliminary recommendations for housing design with the community. The findings of this thesis may affect how houses in the community are designed and built. Ultimately, this research challenged the current condition of Indigenous housing in Canada, particularly to the Swan River First Nation community. This study built on the knowledge gained from the literature and established a basis for future research to collaboratively work with the community, advocate for better housing conditions, and implement culturally appropriate design options.