In 2022, Nishnawbe Aski Nation Chiefs-in-Assembly passed Resolution 22/12 accepting and launching the implementation of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Housing Strategy Roadmap. The launch of NAN Housing Strategy followed four years of strategy development with community members which led to the identification of seven themes requiring ongoing work: advocating for inclusive housing systems, addressing health impacts of housing, appropriate and sustainable design and materials, integrated infrastructure planning, improving funding structures, governance and policy reform, and capacity development and training. 

The 2024 NAN Housing Summit, (ᒪᒧᐤᐧᐊᑲᐃᑫᐧᐃᓇᐧᐃᑕᓄᑭᐧᐃᓇᓇ, Mamow Wakahekewin Weda-Nokiwinun, Building Homes in Partnership) was hosted to provide an update on the implementation of NAN Housing Strategy, share the housing successes of NAN First Nations, highlight capacity development opportunities and learn directly from the region’s housing professionals. Deepening the project team’s understanding of the NAN Housing Strategy themes from the perspective of NAN community members will help to identify priorities and barriers that need to be addressed in the short- and long-term to advance the NAN Housing Strategy in alignment with evolving community priorities. Achieving these goals required significant engagement with Chiefs and Councils, housing managers and other professionals with front-line housing experience through in-person workshops, panel discussions, and passive engagement activities facilitated at the Housing Summit.

Hosted in Thunder Bay between April 17 and 18, the summit brought together 80+ NAN members representing 31 First Nations for discussions focused on ending the ongoing housing emergency. The design and content of the event was informed directly by recommendations following the 2022 NAN Housing Summit, including: having a panel with representatives from the trades (carpentry, electrical, plumbing) to talk about program experiences, focusing on housing policy development, and providing space to discuss the pros and cons of building methods, materials and technologies. 

Over two days of sustained engagement, three panel discussions, two workshops and several passive engagement activities were hosted to elicit community feedback on a range of projects and priorities to ensure that NAN’s housing advocacy work continues to respond to both the immediate and long-term housing needs of NAN First Nations.

Guided by curiosity, the project began by asking: 

How can engagement with NAN Housing Professionals continue to inform the implementation of the NAN Housing Strategy? How can the Housing Strategy support the important work happening to address the housing emergency on the ground today? 

Who was involved?

The story of the NAN Housing Summit is a shared story. The project involved engagement with 80+ NAN members, including housing managers, Chiefs, construction crews and trainees, and community members representing 31 First Nations. 

What was TDL’s role? 

TDL was responsible for designing and facilitating two workshops during the NAN Housing Summit: Imagining a Housing Continuum in NAN Communities and Visions for the Future. TDL  facilitated informal or passive engagement activities and coordinated three panel discussions focused on: Innovation in Housing & Rapid Housing Initiative, Skills Training in the Trades. and Community-Led Designs for Specialized Housing in the North (CLDSHN). 

What types of engagement occurred?

Formal Engagement 

Two workshops were designed to open a housing dialogue between attendees from different NAN First Nations and with NAN in order to create connections and to learn directly from NAN community members and local housing professionals about their housing challenges, needs and solutions. Workshops were hosted in small groups and community members were welcomed to participate in the way that they felt most comfortable-whether by listening to other community members, completing independent worksheets, or engaging in group discussion. Workshops supported the ongoing work of advancing NAN Housing Strategy’s themes and sub-projects, facilitating learning about community need in order to better prioritize NAN’s current and proposed initiatives to support short- and long-term housing change in its member First Nations. 

Informal Engagement 

Informal or passive engagement provided the opportunity for all attendees to participate in a safe and comfortable way, collecting information and data through independent participation and 1-on-1 conversations. Several activities were developed to engage all NAN community members in attendance about housing priorities and barriers in their communities. Activities were available on an ongoing basis at a booth hosted during the Housing Summit, which also served as a space for community members to gain further information and updates about the NAN Housing Strategy and other ongoing projects.