Housing – Case Study
Housing is in critical shortage in most modern treaty communities, which are often in remote locations, with limited infrastructure due to current and historical government policies. Most modern treaty organizations are working hard to build adequate housing in their communities to accommodate their citizens.
In Nunavut’s Kivalliq Region, Sakku Investments is in the early stages of a promising housing project based in the community of Arviat. The program tackles the challenge of lack of housing, and is working to not only solve it, but to use the situation as an opportunity to provide educational support and training to an Inuit workforce.
Sakku Innovative Building Solutions is a joint venture between the economic development branch of the Kivalliq Regional Association and RG Solutions, a Quebec-based company. They are working to build a modular home factory in Arviat which will open up the potential for a year-round building season as well as the ability to develop and adapt houses.
The factory will not just build components for modular homes; it will also increase local capacity by providing housing-related jobs for Inuit. The project has the support of both the Government of Nunavut and Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
This is not a social job creation project, but rather a viable business plan that aims to support the construction of more affordable, appropriate houses in the North and increase the Inuit labour force in the territory. Sakku Innovative Building Solutions is a project that makes economic sense.
