Part VI: Solutions to Native Housing Problems`
Ambassador David Jacobson discusses Native housing with Reg Crowshoe during a visit to the TRTL solar home.
July 7, 2011
David Jacobson, the United States ambassador to Canada, visited the TRTL construction site today. Our spiritual-cultural advisor, Reg Crowshoe, was present and shared the significance of the tipi -- which inspired our TRTL design -- with the ambassador.
Of particular importance is the pride and ownership that accompanies the tipi and other traditional dwellings. According to Crowshoe, such values were not adequately translated or interpreted when modern housing was introduced into Native communities. This, he says, contributes to problems of responsibility and maintenance.
By linking TRTL to traditional designs and values, we hope pride of ownership can be established in a contemporary home.
Together with our faculty lead, Loraine Fowlow, we discussed durability, resistance to fire and mold, and how TRTL's modular structure and temporary foundations can facilitate home ownership on Canada's Native reserves.
By law, permanent structures become part of reserve land, which is owned by Native bands. Temporary structures may be owned individually, however, allowing for mortgaging and financial leverage to start a small business or farm.
We were honored to share details of our project with the ambassador. Ambassador Jacobson, in turn, described a recent trip he took to northern Canada, where Native housing issues are among the most difficult. The cost of materials and operations there can be two or even three times that of other areas. In some communities, heating costs exceed $1,000 a month.
We hope that TRTL will contribute to a broader discussion about these issues -- including the potential benefits of distributed energy and efficient, durable construction.