With three affordable housing projects underway, the director of the Regroupement des centers d’amitié autochtones du Québec (RCAAQ), Tanya Sirois, is a busy woman. But beyond her involvement, she represents a new generation of indigenous women who aim for the “empowerment” of their communities.
“I see myself as a social and economic entrepreneur, who above all wants to trigger long-term changes for the whole of society. I do not do economic development for my own interest, but really so that we all benefit as a society, whether it is the Aboriginals or the non-Aboriginals, including the private sector and the government ”, launches immediately the main interested party, on the sidelines of the Great Economic Circle of Indigenous Peoples and Quebec, which is being held in Montreal this Thursday and Friday.
His group, which has been managing and administering a real estate company since 2019, is piloting three indigenous affordable housing projects. The first, a residence for Native students and their families, will be located near the university pavilion and the Cégep de Sept-Îles. Evaluated at 23 million, the project will include 32 housing units spread over five buildings as well as 29 additional places in childcare or daycare, in addition to several community and cultural spaces. Housing will be intended in particular for women, who are “the most affected” by the insecurity caused by access to housing.
ILLUSTRATION PROVIDED BY THE RCAAQ
Indigenous housing project in Sept-Îles
It is estimated that around 86% of students in the sector “want accommodation instead of a simple room in a usual residence, given their family situation”. More than 8 in 10 also say they need housing equivalent to at least one four and a half.
Listening, humility, respect
Two other such projects will see the light of day by 2025 in the national capital, near Université Laval (at least sixty units), and in Trois-Rivières (more than 40 units). “We are talking about an investment of around 90 million for the three. They will be delivered within three years. It is truly a great success, a phenomenal development, for us and for the Aboriginal community ”, rejoices Mr.me Sirois in an interview.
Housing is a basic need. We contribute to the collective wealth by offering quality and affordable housing to students, who will then contribute to the socio-economic development of the province.
Tanya Sirois, Director of the RCAAQ
For someone who is a member of the Innu First Nation of Pessamit, carrying out Aboriginal housing projects “requires a lot of listening, humility and mutual respect, but also perseverance”. “It takes a detailed knowledge of the field, enthusiasm, positivism: in short, a unifying vision. This is what we drive, which allows us to sell these projects well, ”she says.
“It’s really important to take into account the elements of the past, but while respecting our past, we must also look to the future and think of future generations. We are counting on these generations, on the involvement of women in the development of our own solutions, ”assures the general manager.
Hope for renewal
According to Tanya Sirois, it remains obvious that the urban realities with which the Aboriginals compose are sometimes “swept away” by governments, by incomprehension of the issues or by lack of interest. “We can see that governments must invest even more in front-line services, which know the issues, which hold all that at arm’s length,” she slips.
But change is coming, continues the holder of a bachelor’s degree in business administration, who says she has “hope” that the young people who have recently entered politics throughout Quebec will change the situation.
In my eyes, the change is underway with increasingly young leaders, and women who are more and more present.
Tanya Sirois, Director of the RCAAQ
“For the rest, unfortunately, it took certain tragedies that should not have happened, but we feel that there are more and more people who want to learn about Aboriginal realities. We also have a growing sensitivity of governments to urban realities. It gives me hope, ”she continues.
Besides, Tanya Sirois does not intend to stop there. Once its three affordable housing projects are delivered in 2025, more will come. “We are in the process of building our business model and consolidating the expertise of this real estate company. So, for the moment, we are in the process of determining the next steps after 2025. I look forward to being able to report on them, ”she concludes.