High school students build house for Whitecap Dakota First Nation

It was a ribbon cutting months in the making. Fourteen students from across Saskatoon Public Schools have been busy building a home for a Whitecap Dakota First Nation family.

“I’m still shocked myself. I think it’s an amazing thing that we’ve done here and I’m excited for the people who are getting this house to actually get it and move in,” said Courtney Hillbom, Grade 11 HCAP student.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I'm still shocked myself. I think it's an amazing thing that we've done here and I'm excited for the people who are getting this house to actually get it and move in," said Courtney Hillbom, Grade 11 HCAP student.

READ MORE: Student-built home offers more than self-satisfaction

Students handed over the keys to the new home Thursday. It’s the sixth house provided to the Whitecap Dakota First Nation since the High School Carpentry Apprenticeship Program began in 2003.

“Part of our role is to purchase the home from the school division once they’re compete and then they transport it to Whitecap First Nation. There’s a foundation that’s been built already,” said Chief Darcy Bear, Whitecap Dakota First Nation.

According to Bear, the house will become part of a rental pool in the community and a selection committee will decide which family will get the home.

“Out of our 680 employees, there’s 500 that commute from Saskatoon on a daily basis. Of those 500, 240 of them say they’d like to rent or own a home in Whitecap. So certainly there’s a demand for housing,” Bear explained.

The students are part of the city-wide High School Carpentry Apprenticeship Program (HCAP), which is open to all public high school student, but based out of Mount Royal Collegiate. After a semester they receive six credits, hands on training and industry certification.

“They get certified in first aid, they get certified for powder-actuated fasteners, a WHMIS certificate, a scaffolding and fall restraint certificate,” said teacher Ross Johnson.

The program gives Grade 11 and 12 students a kick-start to a career in the trades, not to mention a sense of pride in what their hard work has created.

“I’m actually really excited about it. I can drive out to Whitecap and show people that I built the house that a family is living in right now,” said Matthew Coe, Grade 11 HCAP student.

A few final touches will need to be required before the house is loaded and shipped to the new location by the weekend.