Housing and Community Economic Development: The Case of Membertou

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to describe housing and community economic development in Membertou, a First Nation community located in Mi’kma’ki. First, I review how the federal government has not adequately intervened in housing for First Nations communities across Canada. I then present a case of my home community of Membertou and the initiatives that are in place to help solve the local housing crisis and generate community wealth at the same time. These initiatives include the generation of community-controlled businesses and changes to the land code, and new housing initiatives using own-source funding which also incorporate the use of locally owned and operated companies for housing construction and which emphasize training and skills development among band members. In this case study, I use data including community reports, media stories, and in-depth interviews.