Building homes, strengthening culture
The Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) is an Indigenous-led housing authority founded in 1996 to change the way Indigenous housing is delivered in British Columbia. Originally established by a collective of urban Indigenous housing providers who recognised that decisions about Indigenous housing needed to be made by Indigenous people themselves, AHMA has since grown into a province-wide leader. Today, their member societies manage over 95 per cent of Indigenous housing units located off-reserve in BC, providing homes – and stability – to more than 10,000 Indigenous individuals and families in urban, rural, and northern regions. Over nearly three decades, AHMA has evolved into a central force in advocacy, operational guidance, asset management, research, and culturally informed housing development. ForAHMA,however,theworkisnotjustoperational. It is cultural, deeply personal, and grounded in an understanding shared by every member of the organisation: housing is a human right, and for Indigenous communities in particular, that right is foundational. “Every Indigenous person should have a home and a place to call home,” says Kelly Moon, who supports communications and justice strategies for the organization. “It’s the starting point for health, stability, and the ability for life to move forward.” Within AHMA, one of the teams deeply embedded in this mission is Asset Strategies. The department delivers a wide range of building and property related support services, from strategic planning and major capital renewal to, when necessary, redevelopment. By leveraging strong partnerships with industry collaborators and government funders, the Asset Strategies utilizes its internal team members skills to delivering AHMA
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
projects that yield high-quality, safe, sustainable, and affordable homes across the province. “The creation and growth of the Asset Strategies department over the years has been deeply rooted in cultural practices of listening to and learning from our communities and Indigenous housing providers,” says David Silva, Director of Asset Strategies. “We aren’t here to simply replicate conventional industry approaches to delivering projects. Our team is passionate about weaving together the needs of Indigenous housing societies, local Indigenous culture, and industry best practices.” Among the Asset Strategies team is Atoine Archie, AHMA’s Manager of Capital Projects. He joined AHMA in 2021, beginning as a building condition assessor before moving into project management and later into his current leadership role. Atoine’s perspective is grounded not only in technical expertise, but also in lived experience. Alongside his peers, he is involved daily in projects that provide cradle-to-completion oversight—ranging from initial assessments to multi-million-dollar capital renewals. In his early days, the Asset Strategies department was small – just about five people – supporting housing societies scattered across the province. As funding streams grew and the need for more robust asset management intensified, the team reorganised, expanded, and honed its processes. Atoine quickly became involved in projects that offered cradle-to-completion oversight – from initial assessments to multi-million-dollar AHMA
renewals. One of the first major portfolios Atoine worked with was in Fort St. John, a northern region where housing challenges are significant and Indigenous homelessness rates are disproportionately high. “Up to 80 per cent of people experiencing homelessness in northern BC are Indigenous,” David explains. “So every unit that can be preserved or revitalised has enormous impact. The North is historically underserved, and AHMA’s involvement there is critical.” For Atoine, working with the Fort St. John housing society meant completing building condition assessments for 27 homes, identifying renewal needs, creating capital plans, securing funding, and overseeing the multi-stage renovation and renewal process. The society had only one fulltime staff member managing the entire housing portfolio. AHMA’s support provided not just technical expertise but capacity, structure, and a sustained partnership. “It’s really rewarding to support societies like that,” Atoine says. “You see the gratitude, and you see what a difference it makes.” That difference, he adds, is rooted in an Indigenous-led approach – something AHMA protects fiercely. “Our motto is: For Indigenous, By Indigenous,” Atoine says. “Many of the tenants AHMA members serve are First Nations members living in municipalities and not on reserve. Indigenous people include First Nations, Métis and Inuit as well as non-status and displaced or dispossessed Indigenous people. We aim to work THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
with Indigenous contractors and consultants whenever possible, or at least with people who have real experience working with First Nations. It matters. It changes the entire dynamic of a project.” When it comes to selecting partners – consultants, builders, trades – AHMA looks for more than technical competency. They look for cultural understanding, history working with Indigenous communities, Indigenous staff representation, or companies willing to learn and approach the work with respect. AHMA also supports societies with procurement, helping them run invitational processes that ensure quality, fairness, and alignment with Indigenous values – right down to scoring criteria that reward Indigenous participation. This approach has shaped dozens of projects across the province, from simple upgrades like new hot water tanks to complex renovations involving building envelopes, mechanical systems, accessibility retrofits, and full-scale redevelopment planning. Some homes require incremental improvements; others need comprehensive renewal. And in some cases, societies work with AHMA to explore entirely new developments – a growing area of focus as capacity and relationships with BC Housing expand. Across all projects, AHMA takes a fully integrated approach – overseeing everything from initial assessment and capital planning to funding advocacy, design, tendering, construction, and ongoing oversight. This model allows societies to AHMA
rely on consistent support rather than navigating housing renewal alone. It also ensures that cultural integration isn’t treated as decoration; instead, it is foundational, embedded into design, processes, programming, and governance from the very beginning. A powerful example of this integrated approach is Bevan Place, a 22-unit affordable housing complex in Terrace that recently underwent a transformative $4 million renovation. Working closely with M’akola Housing Society, a longtime AHMA member, the project included significant structural and aesthetic upgrades: landscaping, foundation enhancements, site drainage improvements, a new exterior envelope, roofing, stairs, lighting, gazebos, pathways, and sheds. Heat pumps replaced gas furnaces and gas hot water tanks, improving efficiency and supporting sustainability goals. But what sets Bevan Place apart is its cultural grounding. Two new Indigenous art installations – created by renowned artists Stan Bevan and Shawna Kiesman – were thoughtfully incorporated into the revitalised space. The project also involved collaboration with the community of Terrace and careful attention to local language, design, and ceremonial traditions. At the building’s opening, AHMA and M’akola hosted a culturally significant gathering that honoured the space, the people, and the history of the land on which it sits. “Everyone was proud, from the tenants to the society to the community and even passers-by in Terrace,” Atoine says. “The project turned out beautifully.” Today, Bevan Place stands not only as a testament to what renewal can achieve but as a model for future Indigenous housing projects – buildings where culture, quality, sustainability, and community connection coexist. THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
AHMA members deliver urban Indigenous housing solutions that work Across the province, AHMA is currently overseeing more than 50 projects, reaching from Fort Nelson and Dawson Creek to Vancouver Island, the Interior, and the Kootenays. The variety is immense: single-family homes, townhouses, mid-rise apartments, high-rise buildings, and everything in between. Some projects address urgent mechanical or structural needs; others tackle long-term challenges like heat mitigation, energy poverty, and climate-resilient design. Accessibility is another priority. Indigenous peoples experience disabilities at disproportionate rates, and many older buildings were not designed with universal accessibility in mind. One ongoing project in Chilliwack, for example, involves retrofitting an elevator into a 20-unit building, creating accessible units, replacing building envelope systems, upgrading the lobby and rooftop units, and installing PTAC systems for heat mitigation. These upgrades are AHMA
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA
more than construction – they directly affect health, safety, and the ability of residents to age in place. Thanks to AHMA’s advocacy, more Indigenous housing societies today have access to support that aligns with cultural strengths, community voices, and long-term sustainability. The organisation also works closely with government partners to ensure that operating agreements, subsidies, and capital planning processes are realistic for the societies they serve. Looking to the future, both Atoine and Kelly express a vision rooted in fundamental change. They hope to see continued growth in Indigenousled housing development – more new builds, more redevelopment of ageing structures, more Indigenous partnerships, and stronger recognition of housing as a basic right. “Having a home is where everything begins,” Kelly says. Atoine echoes that sentiment, emphasising the impact stable housing has on other sectors like health and social services. “We want to see better housing for Indigenous peoples on and off reserve,” he says. “Continuous growth, continuous improvement. Housing as a human right – that’s what drives us.” AHMA’s work is not only technical; it is relational. It is not only about buildings; it is about sovereignty, safety, culture, and community – every piece connected. And as the organisation continues to expand its capacity and reach, the goal remains unchanged: ensuring that Indigenous peoples across British Columbia have access to quality, culturally grounded homes where individuals and families can thrive. AHMA
THE CONSTRUCTION SOURCE CANADA For more on the Aboriginal Housing Management Association – including the range of services they provide, their success stories including Bevan Place, and their latest news – visit https://ahma-bc.org
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=