Aboriginal Co-operatives in Canada - Centre for the Study of Co ...

A P P E N D I X I ~In return for their service on the committees or the board of directors, members’ rent paymentsare subsidized such that they are never more than 25 percent of their gross income. NITHmember involvement in the operations of the co-op leads to a sense of community and sharedownership as well as a commitment to the organization. Many residents are long term and havebeen with the co-op since its early years.The FNHC also operates under this standard co-op arrangement of subsidized rent in exchangefor member involvement in the organization. In the case of FNHC, however, there appears tobe a higher turnover rate for members and less of a desire to participate in the co-op’smanagement.The general population of the co-op just doesn’t like to be involved. This was alwaysone of my questions as to how we became one in the first place; it just seems a lot moredifficult than other nonprofit housing that I have been involved with. A lot of our peoplethey don’t like their business to be known and they don’t like to bother to know otherpeople’s business. The co-op part of things always seems to be a hassle. For themembers—they are here for the low rents and not for the co-operation aspect. 20The NITH attempts to promote member involvement by striving to be culturally sensitive andto respect traditional Aboriginal practices. This has proven to be challenging given the culturaldiversity of members and the desire for inclusiveness. However, when deemed appropriate,meetings begin with prayers and traditional foods are sometimes served at socials.There is a sense of this co-op as being an Aboriginal community. We have a lot ofmembers come to us because that is what they want. They are living in the city and theywant to live within the co-op so that they are living with their people of the same culture.The socials that we do, we try to keep culturally sensitive, and people like that. 21Finally in the area of organization, the NITH and FNHC co-ops are presently members of threelarger organizations that provide both political advocacy as well as ongoing organizationalsupport—the Co-op Housing Federation of Canada, the National Aboriginal Housing Association,and the Native Home Providers.General Comments and Advice from RespondentsWhen asked for their general comments and advice to those thinking of developing anAboriginal housing co-op, the respondents reflected on the considerable number of homes20 Mary Smith, FNHC.21 Denise McGahan, NITH.344 ~