Opening Reflection Questions
- What surprised you most about the history of on-reserve housing after reading the book?
- Before reading, what did you believe caused the housing crisis in First Nations communities? How has your understanding changed?
- Which quote or story from the book stayed with you, and why?
- How did the visual timeline and graphics affect the way you understood the story?
Understanding “Poverty by Design”
- What policies or practices described in the book directly contributed to the creation of “poverty by design”?
- How did the early welfare housing model shape long-term housing outcomes?
- How did restricting access to mortgages and financial tools create intergenerational barriers?
- The book describes government as “deliberately indifferent.” What does that mean in the context of housing?
Two Housing Systems: Race-Based Design
- 1How did the mainstream and on-reserve housing systems differ in design, purpose, and outcomes?
- What were the consequences of providing Indian Agents with high-quality housing while First Nations families received substandard units?
- How do these double standards illustrate broader colonial relations in Canada?
- In what ways did these dual systems influence public perceptions about First Nations communities?
Dependency and Systems That Don’t Fit
- Why does the book argue that housing programs created dependency both ways?
- How did one-size-fits-all programs prevent the development of local housing systems and skills?
- What are the dangers of delivering housing “for” people but not “by” people?
- How did the lack of building standards, training, and enforcement contribute to health and safety risks?
The Impacts: Displacement, Homelessness & Child Welfare
- What connections does the book draw between housing conditions and health outcomes, education, or employment?
- Why did poor housing become a reason for child apprehensions?
- How did inadequate housing drive migration off-reserve and contribute to homelessness?
- What does the term “Great Unsettling” mean in relation to land dispossession?
Section 95, Debt, and the Quiet Devolution
- What made Section 95 a flawed adaptation of mainstream housing models?
- How did these programs burden First Nations with debt and unclear ownership?
- Why did devolution create confusion rather than empowerment?
- How did federal departments retain control despite claims of transferring authority?
Indigenous Perspectives on Home & Homefulness
- How does the concept of “homefulness” differ from western ideas of homeownership?
- What values shape Indigenous concepts of home?
- How do these values challenge mainstream housing priorities?
- How do personal stories in the book illustrate the importance of place-based home?
What Now? Self-Determination and Future Systems
- What does a self-determined First Nations housing system look like?
- How do governance structures, financing tools, and building codes need to change?
- What lessons can Canada’s housing market learn from First Nations innovations?
- What practical steps are needed to transition to community-designed systems?
Closing Reflection Questions
- After reading the book, what responsibilities do Canadians hold in addressing this history?
- How should governments respond to the findings in this work?
- What actions emerge from this history?
- What calls to action do you personally take from the book?