Housing issues

For remote First Nation communities, access can be a major roadblock when it comes to building housing.

"The ones that are in very remote locations, the cost of getting materials to build housing can be quite substantial," said Kathy Campbell, regional manager of Ontario Aboriginal Housing for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

"They have some significant challenges in terms of when they can actually get materials to their site and they need to address housing needs."

The issue is why events like the First Nations Northern Housing Conference, which kicked off Wednesday at the Valhalla Inn, are so important, Campbell said.

"It’s very important for people to be able to talk to each other, to learn from each other, to gain some experiences," she said. "It’s absolutely critical."

The three-day conference has 11 northern tribal councils and more than 80 Aboriginal communities come together to share expertise and ideas through various seminars and a tradeshow.

Presentation cover topics from mould prevention and treatment to energy conservation and efficiency. The conference also included a builder’s challenge addressing roofing issues in cold climates.