ABORIGINAL
HOUSING FORUM

• Effective governance and accountability to ensure good housing programs
• Economic development and governance – working with Aboriginal client-partners to achieve sustainable housing
• Housing standards on reserve: do we need a “Mike Holmes” to get better housing?
• Ensuring that housing remains an asset – how to extend the life of existing housing units
• An integrated strategy for evaluating building condition, energy efficiency and hazardous materials in First Nations Housing
• Safer homes – mitigating the risk of fire in the community
• Water treatment: the little things that make a big difference in getting it right
• Relieving the energy burden in existing housing
• Building long term – institutional capacity for housing among First Nations
• Modern solutions to housing efficiencies and environment
• Housing delivery off reserve – collaboration in urban communities
• Why stable and predictable legal property regimes are critical for lenders and investors
• Housing Authorities – how do we make them work for First Nations
• Information technology and information management supporting aboriginal housing

PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS

Chief Cameron Alexis
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation

Grand Chief Ronald Michel
The Prince Albert Grand Council

MEDIA PARTNER

MARKETING PARTNER

• First Nations Chiefs and Councillors, Band and Tribal Council Members
  
• Members of Aboriginal Associations and Communities
• Directors and Managers of First Nations Housing
• Community and Economic Development Officers
• Capital Planning and Public Works Managers
• Finance and Administration Officers
• Environmental Managers and Consultants
• Aboriginal Law Lawyers
• Regional Health Officers
• Engineers and Building Inspectors
• Construction Industry and Suppliers
• Home Builders, Renovators and Contractors

• Bank Managers and Financing Officers
• Policy Advisors and Analysts
• Federal, Provincial and Municipal Representatives
• 
  Representatives from:
  
• Indian Affairs and Northern Affairs Canada
• Canadian Housing and Mortgage Corporation
• Health Canada
• Environment Canada
• Infrastructure Canada
• Justice Canada
• Public Works and Government Services Canada

Dear Colleague,

Good housing is a key element to ensure a sound foundation for First Nation families as we strive to improve our health and our economic and social conditions. It is an essential ingredient for achieving general well-being and for improved self-sufficiency in our communities. Because of this we must stress the importance of this issue not only within the First Nations communities, but also with Government and other stakeholders to ensure the continued focus on developing capacity in the area of housing.

We must continue to develop professional and business-like approaches to solving the First Nations housing crisis. This involves the development of market housing opportunities as well as delivering the social housing programs that we desperately need. The continued development of sound housing policies and of innovative approaches to accessing capital are crucial steps in planning and building safe and healthy homes for Aboriginal people.

The experts at this Insight Information conference will provide an important learning and information sharing opportunity for those involved in housing development for First Nations. They will highlight the success, lessons learned and proven methods for improving housing conditions on and off-reserve. Learn from this experienced faculty best practices that will focus on the ways the Aboriginal community can continue to develop and improve housing.

Don’t miss the opportunity to establish important contacts during the networking luncheons and informal breaks, and the question periods after each session will give you the opportunity to present your questions on the latest developments in Aboriginal housing.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Yours very truly,

Chief Cameron Alexis
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation

Grand Chief Ronald Michel
The Prince Albert Grand Council

MONDAY, APRIL 26, 2010

8:15

Registration and Coffee

9:00

Elder’s Opening Prayer and
Welcoming Remarks from Insight Information

9:05

Co-Chair’s Opening Remarks

Grand Chief Ronald Michel
Prince Albert Grand Council

9:15

Effective Governance and Accountability to Ensure Good Housing Programs

Cindy Stern
Chief Operating Officer
Tseshaht First Nation, BC

• Council support
• The Housing Committee
• Financing and financial responsibility
• Administration and accountability
• Policies and effective application

10:00

Why Stable and Predictable Legal Property Regimes Are Critical for Lenders and Investors

Suzanne Leclair
National Director and Legal Counsel
Major Transactions Group, Commercial Division
First Canadian Title

• What property rights regimes work on First Nations lands for lenders
• What kind of issues can impede a successful closing on First Nations lands
• What is title insurance and what are the benefits of using title insurance on real property development on First Nations lands

10:45

Networking Coffee Break

11:00

Economic Development and Governance: Working with Aboriginal Client-Partners to Achieve Sustainable Housing

Merle C. Alexander
Co-chair of the Aboriginal Practice Group
Boughton Law Corporation

Economic Development Driven Housing

• Indian Act obstacles and challenges
• Corporate, finance and tax structuring solutions
• Present and future success stories

Errol Winter
Executive Director
Gwaii Trust Society / Gwaii Forest Charitable Trust

Communal Governance 101

• Nature is our best teacher
• What is communal governance?
• Round and round; reinventing the wheel
• Evaluation based information gathering
• Relationships and partnerships

12:30

Networking Luncheon

1:30

Rental Arrears – Systemic Causes and Solutions

Garry Merkel
Chair
Aboriginal Housing Committee for British Columbia (AHC-BC)

• This presentation focuses on the underlying structural causes of on-reserve rental arrears plus local and systemic solutions

Rod Ignace
Capital and Housing Manager
Skeetchestn Indian Band, BC

Anything is Possible Including Housing on Reserve

• Accountability and responsibility
• Importance of financial law
• Policies and procedures
• Importance of community involvement

2:30

Housing Standards on Reserve: Do We Need a “Mike Holmes” to Get Better Housing?

Dan Rogers
Housing Manager
Tk’emlúps Indian Band

• Back to basics – development and evolution of the process
• Policy development that meets your goals and vision
• Planning that makes sense
• Tracking and monitoring projects
• Signing off and reporting
• Review process and celebration of achievements

3:15

Networking Refreshment Break

3:30

Ensuring that Housing Remains an Asset – How to Extend the Life of Existing Housing Units

Sandra Rose
Housing and Social Development Administrator
Housing & Infrastructure
Tseshaht First Nation

• Value-added maintenance protocols
• Ongoing home maintenance education
• Repair and renovations programs
• Effective mould prevention
• Heat retention
• Sweat equity
• Asset management

4:15

An Integrated Strategy for Evaluating Building Condition, Energy Efficiency and Hazardous Materials in First Nations Housing

Jim Bagley
Senior Project Manager, Division Leader Mould and Microbial Services
PHH ARC Environmental Ltd

• Assessing building condition on a component based level
• Assessing energy efficiency of existing buildings
• Establishing the presence of hazardous materials and other safety issues
• Predicting short and long term maintenance costs to validate repairs funding applications
• Taking energy improvements into account when planning building repairs
• Ensuring that proposed repairs are carried out with consideration for the hazards posed by materials such as asbestos and lead based paints

5:00

Conference Adjourns for the Day

TUESDAY, APRIL 27, 2010

8:30

Coffee

9:00

Remarks from Insight Information
Co-Chair’s Opening Address

Chief Cameron Alexis
Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation

9:15

Housing Authorities – How Do We Make Them Work for First Nations

Frank Bighead
Director of Housing
Prince Albert Grand Council

• Use of best practices from across the country
• Separating politics from the business of supplying housing
• Concentrating training on occupants
• Explaining finances to all band members

10:00

Safer Homes – Mitigating the Risk of Fire in the Community

Tom Littlechild
Chief of Emergency Services
Siksika Nation Emergency Services and Fire Department

• Main causes of fire in the home
• Safety measures
• Building codes and standards
• Building permits
• Access for handicap

10:15

Networking Coffee Break

11:00

Water Treatment: The Little Things that Make a Big Difference in Getting it Right

Garry Drachenberg, P.Eng.
Manager, Water & Wastewater Process Division
Associated Engineering Alberta Ltd.

• History of treatment and its impact
• Role in public health and well being
• Common challenges and roadblocks encountered
• Key factors that influence treatment and distribution success
• Operational necessities
• Migration path for successful outcomes

11:30

Relieving the Energy Burden in Existing Housing

Victoria Smith
Manager, Aboriginal & Sustainable Communities
BC Hydro

• Energy conservation programs for existing housing
• How to mitigate the impacts of energy inefficient homes
• Community energy planning ideas

12:15

Networking Luncheon

1:15

Building Long Term – Institutional Capacity for Housing Among First Nations

Wendy Blackman
Director
Dechen Corporation, c/o Cold Lake First Nations Economic Development

• Sustainable utilization of natural resources from traditional territories
• Selective harvesting, lumber and value added production
• 10 year strategy for log home building in the nation
• Long term employment, training, and apprenticeship
• Supporting nation businesses
• Building capacity and homes
• Sustainable business model for addressing long term housing solutions
• Building Homes, Building Futures (is our motto)

2:00

Modern Solutions to Housing Efficiency and Environmental Challenges

Cheryl Brooks
President
Indigenuity Solutions

• Environmentally conscious construction
• Building with structurally insulated panels to save old growth forest products
• Significantly reduce energy use for heating
• Eliminate potential for mould
• Deter rodents
• Improve air quality in homes
• Reduce long term maintenance through use of durable products and methods that increase strength and longevity

2:45

Networking Refreshment Break

3:00

Information Technology and Information Management Supporting Aboriginal Housing

Sue Hanley
First Nations Technology Council

• How technology can be used in all areas of housing
• Initial land surveying
• Design and construction
• How information management can support aspects of community housing maintenance

3:45

Housing Delivery Off Reserve – Collaboration in Urban Communities

Darlene Lennie
Executive Director
Metis Urban Housing Corporation (MUHC)
Metis Capital Housing Corporation (MCHC)

Joan Wilson
Chair
Aboriginal Housing and Homelessness Committee

• Developing partnerships and a working relationship
• Working together with Métis and First Nations
• Urban aboriginal housing – multi-unit construction
• Interest with no growth and long standing leaders retiring or leaving
• With the subsidy given to the urban native groups tied to the life of the mortgage, how does a group prepare to manage without subsidy?
• Housing co-ops are an option
• Creating and maintaining balance between corporate and resident needs
• Principled leadership
• Quality governance
• Sound management
• Should there be a difference in on and off reserve housing policy?

4:45

Register 3 delegates for the main conference at regular price at the same time and you’re entitled to register a fourth person from your organization at no charge. For other group discounts, please call 1-888-777-1707. All discounts must be redeemed when booking, discounts will not be valid or applied after this time.