Photo courtesy of Manfred Joehnck
There is a lot of excitement about a new high school pilot project that is offering cash, trades experience and credits to Indigenous high school students.
Today, the FSIN signed a partnership agreement with Your Choice Homes to try to expand the program to all First Nations in the province and beyond.
FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says not only does it help fill a housing need on First Nations, it offers hope for the students.
“It’s about investing in our youth at a time when we have dealt with some serious youth tragedies and crises in our province,” he said. “This is a perfect opportunity for our leadership and our people out there to invest in our youth.”
The first project, a 365-square-foot house, is being built by students in the Yorkton Tribal Council.
Your Choice Homes spokesman, Jay Noel, says he is excited about expanding the program. He says he’s even more excited to watch the youth build confidence, as well as build a home and build credit towards an apprenticeship in a trade.
“We feel so good about what we are doing,” he said. “Aside from the partnerships and what we want to eventually do, we have 13 really amazing kids that went through this project and are doing so well.”
The Yorkton project will be complete March 26th.
Thirteen students from a half a dozen First Nations are involved in the build.
The signing ceremony for the new partnership agreement was held at First Nations University.