Recording Our Truth traces how understandings of home have changed in NAN territory and documents how the concept of home can be an important tool in building community wellness moving forward. As part of the Nishnawbe Aski Nation Housing Strategy these interviews looked to build context for the current housing emergency. Recording people’s experiences of the development of the on-reserve housing system in NAN territory looks to illustrate how current conditions are a legacy of a failed system. Stories shared also demonstrate how the current emergency is the direct result of failed government intervention in northern lifeways. Interviews provide an oral history of the continued struggle to improve housing conditions, the importance of the connection to land and a vision for the future of well-being of the territory.

Through a series of interviews with six Nishnawbe Aski Nation Elders, knowledge holders shared their changing concept of home and its impact on the built environment. Maps and other visual tools across a variety of scales were used to aid Elders as they shared their stories.  

Guided by curiosity, the project began by asking: 

What are your earliest memories of home? How has your understanding of home changed or shifted at different times? How does your changing understanding of home impact what you would like to see for the future of your community? 

Who was involved?

TDL collaborated with NAN to identify and work with Elders to record their stories of home and their experiences of housing over their lifetime. 

What was TDL’s role?

TDL developed interview guides and material, including revising ethic protocols in light of challenges presented by COVID-19. Additionally TDL conducted, transcribed and analyzed interviews. 

What types of engagement occurred? 

Interviews

In November and December of 2021 six interviews were completed in Thunder Bay and Timmins. Interviews were both audio and video recorded and included both oral and mapping components. Once completed, interviews were transcribed and anonymized. Transcriptions were then cleaned before being sent to participants, either via email or mail, for verification. A collaborative process was undertaken with participants to ensure that their transcripts fully represented the stories they wished to share about the history of housing in the territory.

Once all transcripts were finalized, mapping components were reviewed. This review included synthesizing and verifying points from both digital and paper maps during the interview as well as adding mapping detail from locations mentioned through discussion in the interview. In certain cases this also included a review of place names that were given in the participants language, though in same cases spellings for these remain outstanding.

What was learned?

Understandings of home, housing and homelands

Three concepts emerged from interviews: home, housing and homelands. The concept of home was formed while young, often connected to land and family and connected to a time before government intervention and residential schools. Despite disruptions and disconnections, this concept was constant. Housing was a more physical concept linked to imposition and inappropriateness; housing was often seen as ill-suited to the context. Housing was also associated with the current crisis experienced across NAN territory. Finally, Elders shared their connection with the land and places, rivers, lakes and coasts they grew up and travelled with their families. There was concern that younger generations have not been able to share this connection more directly.

Not enough to just have technical solutions (housing) but also must be part of a process of healing and community well-being (home)

Elders’ stories demonstrate the importance of a wholistic approach which guides much of the work undertaken through the NAN Housing Strategy. ROT highlights the ongoing importance of collecting and sharing these stories and reinforces the need to ensure that solutions are rooted in community. Elders’ housing journeys point towards a crisis existing of both ‘home’ and ‘housing’ each of which has unique solutions but both of which need to be solved simultaneously.