Affordable housing for Metis elders under construction

Construction of a new affordable housing project for Métis elders is officially underway.

Local politicians and delegates were in attendance to break ground on the Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge, a 26-unit in the Pleasant Hill neighbourhood Friday.

Métis Nation–Saskatchewan (MN-S) President Glen McCallum is hailing the project as a big first step to broadly provide affordable housing for Metis people.

“Investing in the Round Prairie Elders’ Lodge project brings us one further step forward in our MN–S Government housing capacity building strategy for all MN–S citizens. Our elders are our experts. Our elders have worked hard to be able to establish the well-being of our nation and we must care for their well-being also,” he said in a statement.

Expected to have rental suites open by the end of 2022, the project aims to provide affordable housing at below-market rates. Social inclusion, community and well-being are also highlighted in the focus of the project, along with energy-efficient and accessible features.

“An elders’ lodge needs to be based on piihtikway with a sign at the door that says, in all the languages that Métis speak, ‘piihtikway, welcome, come in,'” MN–S resident Elder Norman Fleury said in a statement.

“That’s welcoming and that is culture. We need to find a balance in well-being and understanding of who we are in our language and culture. Regardless of age, teachings need to be shared. We want our elders to enjoy living who they are and connecting regardless of the time of one’s life.”

Located in the 400 block of Avenue P South, MN-S said the project is part of a larger plan to provide more affordable, safe housing to a wide range of Métis people.