First Nations sustainable houses built to last: the sound of hammers at work in Leoville tells the story of three First Nations coming together to successfully address some chronic housing problems.

A successful construction company started by three First Nations to address the variety of housing needs within their communities expects to generate over $7 million in sales this year.

AC Realty Limited Partnership in Leoville was launched by the Agency Chiefs Tribal Council three years ago. The Council is composed of Witchekan Lake First Nation, Big River First Nation, and Pelican Lake First Nation. Their initiative is based on principles of local involvement, innovation, cost effectiveness, and a focus on job creation, gaining and upgrading skills, and business development.

The houses cost about $70,000 each and have been designed and constructed to be more energy efficient, durable and sustainable.

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One of the aims of the project was to generate jobs and develop skills. The houses, which are constructed mainly for locals with lumber, are built in Leoville before being trucked to the prepared housing site. This year, AC Realty expects to build about 100 units that will be sold in Western Canada. The majority of sales are to reserves, although some have been to people wishing to build lake cabins.

According to one of the founders, Chief Peter Bill of Pelican Lake First Nation, the project was started in 2002. "In our first year, we built 20 to 30 units. In the second year, our orders went up and we built about 70 housing units. This year, we expect to deliver about 100 housing units to our customers."

Chief Bill said that the project offers opportunities for apprenticeship for skilled labour in contracting, construction, plumbing and electrical to the people of the three First Nations that own AC Realty. The project also creates jobs for the people of the three First Nations that have a combined population of about 5,000 people.

The medium size of the houses and use of local resources have made new homes affordable to First Nations communities in Saskatchewan. The durability of the houses has made them popular with reserves' housing authorities who have ordered units to alleviate housing shortages. There has been interest from other communities in Manitoba and Alberta.

The project has also created 40 direct jobs and another 40 indirect jobs in Leoville, a community with a population of about 400 people. First Nations youth are also gaining valuable skill development in apprenticeship as they work with experienced journeymen in building quality units.

Owing to the success of the project in Leoville, AC Realty is planning to open a second plant in collaboration with Fishing Lakes First Nation. The group also has a sawmill and is active in logging. This has resulted in lower costs on some of the material for producing the housing units.

"By adding innovative features to our homes, we have reduced home maintenance costs."

Chief Bill says that confidence in the superior quality of their houses has led to a warranty program that covers workmanship and material--a warranty not previously offered to the First Nations housing market.

AC Realty worked with the Saskatchewan Research Council to design and construct superior manufactured houses. The project has resulted in sustainability and prosperity for the three First Nations through jobs, new and improved skills and better homes.

AC REALTY HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THE SASKATCHEWAN RESEARCH COUNCIL ON THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HOUSES THAT ARE ECONOMICAL TO BUILD, MORE ENERGY EFFICIENT, AND MORE DURABLE.

THE DESIGNS HAVE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL FOR COMMERCIALIZATION IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS CANADA.