Building Skills, Building Homes: Community Sustainability, Straw Bale Construction, and Indigenous Perspectives
This narrative inquiry explores how the Building Skills, Building Homes Project, which was undertaken in Saskatchewan, Canada from April November 2003, exemplified a learning strategy for self-sustainable community development through the straw bale construction of two buildings. Being self-sustainable involves searching for an interconnected way of living with our environment. Finding a strategy that connects what is ecologically sound, such as straw bale construction, with current modes of living, is a complex process that necessitates new kinds of community education relationships. A retrospective analysis of the authors experience with the project and a conversational interview with one of the participants of the Building Skills, Building Homes Project will illustrate the adult learning that happens between learners working together on a joint project, which facilitates a growing awareness of what self-sustainable living entails.
The research question framing this study is: What links can community educators make using the Building Skills, Building Homes Project as an example of ecological community sustainability?
Advisor:Wason-Ellam, Linda; Oliphant, Lynn; Julien, Richard; Collins, Michael
School:University of Saskatchewan
School Location:Canada - Saskatchewan
Source Type:Master's Thesis
Keywords:alternative energy workplace learning affordable housing aboriginal education work skills ecology indigenous cultural development sustainable community ecological environmental
Date of Publication:11/29/2005