Saddle Lake housing conditions critical: Chief

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Native families on Saddle Lake reserve are living in squalid, unhealthy conditions, says the band's chief.

Carl Quinn said the housing problems facing his 4,000-member band have escalated into a crisis, because the federal government refuses to increase its allowance for new home construction and renovations.

"And it' been that way since we left our teepees," he said during a rally in Edmonton April 11.

Families are forced to shack up together on the reserve, because they can't afford new housing, said Quinn, who combined forces with Blood Tribe councilor Peter Bighead outside Canada Place to criticize Indian Affaris and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for not recognizing Native rights to housing.

"When our forefathers entered into treaty with the British Crown in 1876 to share this land, certain commitments were made to us in return for the use of the land by non-indigenous peoples," said Quinn.

"Housing is a treaty right guaranteed to indigenous people."

Quinn said many of his band members, most of whom depend on social assistance, are living together in ramshackle homes because there aren't enough houses on the reserve and they can't afford to build new ones.

He has asked the federal government to finance more than 200 additional homes which would cost $83,000 a piece.

But CMHC, which oversees reserve housing, is only liable for $26,500.

"We're then expected to come up with the rest." Quinn raged. "Bands can't do that."

He said there are many infectious diseases spreading throughout the reserve, because of the large number of people living in such close quarters.

The living conditions at Saddle Lake area at a "crisis level" despite the band's efforts over the last several years to pour $20 million of its own money into fixing existing homes.

Quinn, who was elected chief last year, said many of the homes are over 15 years old -- a life span even CMHC agrees is too old.

There are 450 homes on Saddle Lake reserve, located 160 km northeast of Edmonton. Quinn said 300 homes need repairs that would cost in excess of $6.5 million.

Indian Association of Alberta president Roy Louis said the federal government has got to change its policy toward housing allowances because bands across Canada are growing.

He said "it's crazy" that Indian affairs and CMHC won't hike housing funds to reflect the needs of Bill C-31 Indians returning to their reserves.

Louis said he met with Indian Affairs Minister Tom Siddon two weeks ago, who suggested he may make some changes to the reserve housing policy.