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Chippewa Sustainable Living Project

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Help us make history and prove that affordable, sustainable living solutions are available. Help our First Nations neighbours develop a site that can showcase these options and invite tourism and cultural bridging.  Project details below.

With your generous donations we have now  bought our first trailer foundation and paid rent for the warehouse space needed to build the first sustainable tiny home for the Chippewa Sustainable Living Project.  

Trailer - Built in Mitchell, On Canada, 8' x 20', discounted for this project by just over $1000.00, bringing the cost to $5073.

Rent - shared warehouse space in central London, ON.  $339 / month x 6 months = $2034.

Thanks for making a donation and sharing.  We are now ready to move in to the building phase and are seeking further support.  We need funds or in-kind donations for:

Tools and Hardware - $987
Sustainably Sourced Framing Lumber - $748
Rainwater Harvesting, storage, filtration and pumping system for potable water - $5495
Solar and Electrical system - $9280
Finishes - $2000

We have received a $500 in-kind credit from Habitat for Humanities Re-store to purchase windows or fixtures.

We have been gifted drafting services from architectural technician, Justine Nigro.

We are likely receiving a grant to develop programming for renewable energy training and implememtation, and cultural bridging actvities,  However this grant cannot fund building materials, so we are seeking further help from personal donations.

More information about the Chippewas Sustainable Living Project:

Building Better has partnered with Chief Myeengun Henry, Manager of Aboriginal Services at Conestoga College and Chippewas of The Thames First Nation to implement a sustainability and cultural site.

 Using 5 acres of reserve land, we will showcase sustainable building and living technologies.  We will also allow space for community engagement and First Nation cultural practices including sweat lodging, story telling, fire circles, food production and craft and skill development.  We are combining new technologies and ancient First Nation beliefs to promote sustainability in our area, and improve our native / non-native relationship.

We are building a natural and sustainable home that uses passive solar heating and cooling, water collection and treatment, solar electricity, indoor food production, and will be built using recycled materials.  Chief Myeengun will use this home and gain first hand experience living off-grid and in a sustainable way.  We hope to inspire others in his community to make similar choices and reduce their environmental impact.  We are hosting workshops and tours for skill transfer and education in sustainable technologies.

 We are also building an off-grid tiny home using some salvaged materials and sustainable systems including  solar panels and rainwater catchment.  It features a well insulated living space that requires very little energy to heat and cool.

It will be built locally in London, Ontario in shared workspace by non-profit organization, Building Better.  This model of sustainability will showcase Building Better’s work of making a living space that is in line with environmental values.

 The tiny home will be available for rent so that people can experience small space and off grid living, and engage in eco-tourism locally.  This opportunity will be open to both First Nations people and non-natives.  We hope to bridge our cultural gap and give non-natives a tourism experience on the reservation.  We are developing this into an eco-tourism based social enterprise that will provide meaningful employment to members of the Chippewa community.

 Proceeds from the rental will be used to fund the next build.  The homes that are built with rental income will be used for affordable housing for people living on the Chippewa of the Thames first nations reservation, where first nations people will be encouraged to apply for a low and affordable rent to own program.

 We will provide building experience and training to members of the Chippewa community that are interested in building and sustainable technology. 

www.wearebuildingbetter.com
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Donations 

  • david ng
    • $150
    • 6 yrs
  • Building Better Fest
    • $3,340 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
  • Order of The Phoenix
    • $1,200 (Offline)
    • 7 yrs
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Organizer

Marianne Griffith
Organizer
London, ON

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