Bâtir la force grâce à l’abri : Prescriptions politiques pour des logements autochtones écoénergétiques sains

The report argues that inadequate housing is a critical determinant of health for Indigenous peoples in Canada, exacerbating respiratory illnesses and mental distress. It introduces the concept of 'Healthy Energy Homes'—dwellings that are energy-efficient, climate-resilient, and supportive of holistic well-being. The authors identify systemic institutional barriers, including fragmented government responsibilities, rigid and insufficient funding models (described as 'firefighting'), and significant capacity gaps within communities. To address these, the report recommends a coordinated 'single-window' government approach, the co-development of policies with Indigenous leaders, long-term investment agreements, and flexible funding models that prioritize holistic outcomes over prescriptive activities. It highlights successful community-led initiatives and international models from Ireland and New Zealand as evidence that integrated housing and health policies can generate significant social and economic returns.

• Inadequate housing is a primary driver of severe health issues for Indigenous populations, including higher rates of respiratory infections, tuberculosis, and mental health crises.
• Indigenous peoples face disproportionate climate risks that threaten housing stability, such as permafrost thaw causing building instability and increased wildfire smoke infiltration in poorly constructed homes.
• Governmental responsibility for Indigenous housing is fragmented across multiple federal, provincial, and territorial agencies, creating bureaucratic hurdles and accountability gaps.
• Current funding models are characterized as 'firefighting'—reactive, project-based, and short-term—rather than providing the stable, long-term capital needed for sustainable development.
• There is a significant gap between the funding provided and the actual needs; for example, the federal government invested 3.86 billion dollars in First Nations housing between 2018 and 2023, but only 23% was guaranteed.
• Community capacity constraints, including a lack of administrative staff and local skilled trades, hinder the ability of Indigenous nations to access and manage complex funding programs.
• Investment in Indigenous housing yields high social returns; the Aboriginal Housing Management Association estimates a social return on investment of approximately 6.79 dollars for every dollar invested.

APA

Canadian Climate Institute (2025). Bâtir la force grâce à l’abri : Prescriptions politiques pour des logements autochtones écoénergétiques sains. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Batir-la-force-grace-a-l-abri-Institut-climatique-Canada.pdf

Chicago

Canadian Climate Institute. Bâtir la force grâce à l’abri : Prescriptions politiques pour des logements autochtones écoénergétiques sains. 2025. https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Batir-la-force-grace-a-l-abri-Institut-climatique-Canada.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Canadian Climate Institute |title=Bâtir la force grâce à l’abri : Prescriptions politiques pour des logements autochtones écoénergétiques sains |date=December 2025 |url=https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Batir-la-force-grace-a-l-abri-Institut-climatique-Canada.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{canadianclimateinstitute2025btir, author = {{Canadian Climate Institute}}, title = {{Bâtir la force grâce à l’abri : Prescriptions politiques pour des logements autochtones écoénergétiques sains}}, institution = {Canadian Climate Institute}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://institutclimatique.ca/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Batir-la-force-grace-a-l-abri-Institut-climatique-Canada.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }