Housing and Infrastructure
Tŝilhqot’in National Government Housing and Infrastructure Department
The Tŝilhqot’in Nation is working to establish a sustainable housing system within our Nation that focuses on the well being of our people while also investing in the future of our communities. The federal system imposed on our communities has many issues that have led us to strive towards something better.
“As Tsilhqot’in, we are resilient and strong. Before colonization, our communities and homes were a direct representation of who we are as people. Our structures each contained a story with a connection to the land, the hands that built it, and the people it protected. This is where we want to get back to.”
– Nits’ilʔin (Chief) Joe Alphonse, O.B.C, LL.D. (hon.). Tribal Chair, Tŝilhqot’in National Government (2024)
Investing in Our People
A key part of creating a system for housing that works for the Tŝilhqot’in is creating an economy around housing that can reinvest profits from building back into training and capacity development in the Tŝilhqot’in communities.
Tŝilhqot’in Wildfire House
The design of this home was inspired from the Fires Awakened Us report as a chance to build future houses that are adaptable to climate change and resilient to future forest fires, adding low tech options to prevent a house fire, but it is also built to be a high quality building with energy efficiency, include local milled products and test out hempcrete as a viable option. The design itself, although square, is inspired by the winter underground houses and the main feature includes a wood stove and skylight to complement the open living space inside. This project is a collaboration between Yuneŝit’in, the Tŝilhqot’in Housing Authority, and the UBC Architecture & Landscape department. The UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative also fostered the relationship. John Bass, an Associate Professor, helped in coordinating a team of students, faculty and experts to help design the house in this video to date. Sechanalyagh to all those involved and to TNG’s CAD Drafter & Designer. Thank you to those that joined us for the virtual community information session in Yuneŝit’in where this video was first shown to the community!
Find out more: UBC Indigenous Research Support Initiative
Find out More
- Contact your community Housing Manager for more information.
- View possible training opportunities
- Check out current job openings
