A unique residential structure has been unveiled in the Nakâazdli Whuten community near Fort St. James, B.C. This home serves as a prototype for an innovative Indigenous-led housing initiative that utilizes locally-sourced low-grade wood to create prefabricated housing kits for northern regions. The project involves harvesting trees from the local area, processing them nearby, and utilizing the lumber to fabricate panels that are assembled into a house within a short timeframe.
Elky Taylor, a member of Nakâazdli Whuten, emphasized the significance of this housing development, stating that it offers security not only in terms of shelter but also in economic sustainability and community well-being. The partnership between Nakâazdli Whuten Development Corp., Deadwood Innovations, and the University of Northern British Columbia’s Wood Innovation Research Lab led to the creation of this prefabricated mass timber panel system, aiming to address housing challenges faced by Indigenous and northern communities.
This pioneering approach focuses on leveraging local resources and expertise to construct homes that are affordable, sustainable, and culturally appropriate. The utilization of mass timber panels allows for efficient construction with enhanced quality control, offering a solution to the housing scarcity issue. The ultimate goal is to establish a company that specializes in producing mass timber houses within the region, providing employment opportunities and meeting the housing needs of various communities.
The model home, a two-storey structure featuring three bedrooms and two bathrooms, showcases the potential of this innovative housing system. With the capability to customize designs to suit different preferences, from cabins to larger family homes, the mass timber panel technology can bring about a positive impact on local economies through increased employment and localized production. The completion of the model home marks a significant milestone in the project, with plans to gift it to a Nakâazdli family or elder after serving as a showcase for the community.
