The ceremony was attended by Canoe Lake Cree First Nation leadership, as well as others involved with the project. (Submitted photo/Sheldon Couillonneur)

By Derek Cornet

innovation

Canoe Lake celebrates launch of Oskayak Pasikonatanik Project

Jun 7, 2022 | 11:20 AM

Thursday marked a special day for members of Canoe Lake Cree First Nation who gathered for a ground-breaking ceremony to celebrate the start of the Oskayak Pasikonatanik Project.

The Oskayak Pasikonatanik Project is a charitable non-profit that was registered about two years ago to facilitate the development of what’s being called a green, smart home on the Canoe Lake reserve.

The project will target students between Grades 10 and 12 and it will be designed to progress throughout the school year. Couillonneur explained construction could take up to two years as the speed is dependent on how fast students are able to complete it. By the end of June, the foundation should be ready to go.

Those who participate in the project will also receive safety certifications and will be provided in-class training to correlate with building a house.

“One of the key strategic goals of the organization is creating those partnerships with post-secondary institutions, so Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission,” Couillonneur said.

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Canoe Lake Miksiw School principal Arliss Coulineur mentioned band council first had the idea for such a project in 2018 after learning of a similar project at Beardy’s & Okemasis’ Cree Nation. He said implementation of it was delayed due to the pandemic, but it is now being rolled out as students are returning to in-class work.

Coulineur added a local teacher will assist with the project, but various journeymen will assist along the way too.

“If they decided to go to Sask Polytechnic or SIIT, they will have some hours under their belt,” he said. “We did a visit out at Sask Polytechnic in November and they got to see all the different trades that are possible with this project. We have some kids here with high hopes now.”

Construction of the 1,600-square-feet four-bedroom bungalow home will begin next week and feature energy efficient upgrades like LED lighting, enhanced heating and cooling systems, double wall construction, triple pane windows, improved insulation and vapour barriers.

“This was all rooted in the belief that creating opportunities for our youth to demonstrate that passion and interest into the trades sector,” said project coordinator, Sheldon Couillonneur. “It gives them a head start in terms of a career pathway to journeyman red seal certification in the housing or trade sector, primarily carpentry, electrical, plumbing or heavy sheet metal.”

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @saskjourno