Indigenous-Driven Housing Initiatives Gain Momentum as Affordable Homeownership Opportunities Expand
Jeff Mesina and his spouse were eager to embark on a new life chapter as a newlywed couple anticipating the joys of parenthood. They aspired to own a spacious home suitable for raising children, complete with a front and backyard. However, in the exorbitant housing market of Metro Vancouver, their dream seemed unattainable.
“Vancouver, Burnaby, any of the Lower Mainland cities [in B.C.] were just unaffordable,” Mesina shared with CBC’s Cost of Living. Fortunately, a pivotal tip altered their trajectory. Mesina’s wife, employed in real estate marketing, discovered an Indigenous-led housing development situated on Tsawwassen First Nation territory, south of Vancouver.
In this community, new residences were priced at around $300 per square foot, significantly lower than the regional average of $1,000. These homes were accessible through a 99-year leasehold agreement, allowing the First Nation to maintain ownership of the land beneath the property. Mesina emphasized the extended lease duration, ensuring the property’s value for future resale.
The couple purchased a presale home in 2013 and relocated two years later, just in time to welcome their first child in June. Nationally, First Nations in proximity to urban centers are spearheading significant housing projects that not only present home ownership and quality rental options but also stimulate Indigenous economic development.
One prominent initiative is the Sen̓áḵw development on Squamish Nation land in Vancouver, set to feature over 6,000 rental units across 11 towers upon completion. In Alberta, the Taza project on Tsuut’ina Nation land near Calgary spans around 190 hectares and envisions three interconnected villages with an initial phase planning 6,500 homes.
Future housing expansions are anticipated at Naawi-Oodena by the Treaty One Nations in Winnipeg and at the Millbrook First Nation in Nova Scotia. Michael Janes, an economist and University of Victoria PhD student specializing in First Nations economic progress, emphasizes that homes on Indigenous land are typically sold as leasehold properties, varying from single-family residences to condos and apartments.
Unlike freehold properties where buyers own both the structure and land, leasehold purchasers solely possess the dwelling while the land remains under Indigenous ownership. Janes noted that leasehold agreements, which can span 40, 50, or 99 years, make these homes comparatively more affordable despite necessitating lease renegotiation upon expiration.
Realtor Josh Wong, operating in Vancouver, Burnaby, and Coquitlam, lauds the increasing popularity of leasehold developments, particularly on First Nations land, offering buyers access to desirable neighborhoods at reduced costs. For instance, in kʷasən Village, a collaboration between the Musqueam Indian Band and Tsleil-Waututh Nation within Burnaby, homes are priced below $1,000 per square foot, contrasting with adjacent freehold residences exceeding $1,200 to $1,300.
