July 14, 2011 - Ha-Shilth-Sa - Page 7
Housing crunch eases slightly at Ehattesaht By Debora Steel Ha-Shilth-Sa Reporter
Ehattesaht—The community of %iih=%atis / c^ iinax=%int is celebrating the opening of a beautiful new six-plex on its territory and Chief Councillor Rose-Ann Billy couldn’t be more pleased. “It’s fabulous. I’m jealous now,” she laughed good-naturedly. The building is a showstopper for this community built on a hill overlooking the village of Zeballos. People travelling the logging road that runs adjacent to the reserve can’t help but slow down to have a look. Designed by Lubor Trubka Associates, an architect well-known to Nuu-chahnulth Nations, designing such structures as the Tseshaht Administrative Building on the Somass and Haa-huu-payak School, the Ehattesaht six-plex was inspired by the design of an eight-plex built for Ahousaht. “It provides a very comfortable layout for a growing family,” said Trubka of the two-, and three-bedroom units. Each are about 1,000 sq. ft. and each are just a little different in layout from the others, but all are energy efficient, with an open concept feel to them. Trubka said the design of the units were directed by the very people who would be the end users of the building, the community members. Of the requirements they insisted on were wood stoves in each unit. Featured also is a heat recovery system that brings fresh air into the homes
Billy said the six-plex helps, in small part, to solve what she is describing as a housing crisis in the community. %iih=%atis / c^ iinax=%int is in the enviable position of having many employment opportunities for its members, but there is nowhere to house members returning home. It’s been 15 years since there was new housing in the community, and that housing was so poorly constructed that it had to be torn down. The new six-plex sits on the site of the old housing, and because there is such limited space at the reserve, the community has had to build up The new six-plex in Ehattesaht features cedar siding milled from the trees harvested from rather than spread out. the community’s territory, and artful flourishes on the big fascias over the front doors. Housing needs have been a real struggle, said Billy. and warms that air with the warm air that ing in material and a labor force, the conWhile %iih=%atis / c^ iinax=%int has other is passing out. struction actually went very smoothly, reserve lands, they are even more “I’ll never build a house without one said Billy. remote than the territory near Zeballos, today,” said Rod Hatchard of Wolf She gives top marks to the Nuu-chahwith no infrastructure or adequate road Project, the project manager hired to nulth Tribal Council’s Capital access. Queen’s Cove is an hour and a oversee construction. He said he can Department, made up of Lance Adair and half farther still, but the community was actually taste the fresh air in the building. Doug Neff, who Billy said contributed relocated from there to this current locaAt the time of our interview there were greatly to the success of the project. And tion, perched on the side of a steep some final touches left to do on the she speaks highly of Hatchard, who took incline, in the early 1990s. building. They were waiting to install the reins of the project, kept council Billy said the six-plex houses three closet rods, blinds, and gutters. But as of informed of changes and issues along the families from the reserve, and three June 30, all the residents had moved into way, and made a commitment to use families returning home. And now that their new homes. locals wherever possible during building. members have seen the new building, Not bad for a tight construction schedHatchard said he tried to strike a balwith its cedar siding milled from trees ule in which the first concrete was ance between using the local labor force from the territory, and its expressions of poured just before Christmas last year. and other skilled workers from outside cultural heritage on the big fascias, there And given the remoteness of the comthe community, growing capacity in is even more of a pull home for ?iihòatis munity and all of the challenges of bring- Ehattesaht in such areas as framing, sid/ èiinaxòint members living away. ing and plumbing. Billy said council is sitting on the Hatchard and his wife and young son edge of their seats awaiting word on moved up to the area from Comox, and another housing application, this time are hoping the move will be permanent. for a four-plex. It will be an amazing He said the community is so genuine, accomplishment for the community to nice, friendly and welcoming, they just have 10 new units built within a single had to stay. He said he has work in nearyear. by Ocluje for a while, and is bidding on But for now, the tenants are extremely jobs in Kyuquot and on the new school happy and so grateful for their beautiful for Zeballos. accommodation. He said it was also a pleasure to deal “We love always working with communities,” said Trubka of his collaborawith the new young council of %iih=%atis / tion with Nuu-chah-nulth nations. “They c^ iinax=%int. Billy said she gives a lot of need it, they deserve it, and they take credit to Councillor Ashley John, who part in it.” He said it’s a lot more kept on top of the project from the subrewarding than designing another commission of the application for funding mercial strip building in downtown (almost half of the $1.5 million budget Vancouver. for construction came from a grant “It feels like we’re contributing to the offered under Canada’s Economic Action future.” Plan) to the final ribbon cutting on June Hatchard agrees. He said there is a 29. Ashley John and Hereditary Chief huge sense of pride locally in the quality Tony John did the honors of officially of the new six-plex. opening the building.
WOLF PROJECTS Proud to have worked with Ehattesaht on their special project. cell: 250-650-2376 of fice: 250-336-2376 email: twcorp@telus.net