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 DECEMBER 2025
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTYzNTg=