For the last two years the Regional C.T.A. did not have a cabin program. In the summer of 2007 the Board of Niskamoon commissioned Mr. Daniel Goyette to do a study on all cabins built by Apatisiiwin and Niskamoon Corporation in connection with the impacts of the 1975 and current hydro electric projects. In the report there are certain recommendations which include an alternative cabin design and construction techniques. Following this report the President of Niskamoon, Dr. Billy Diamond requested Mr. Walter Dean of Shelter Systems International to look into the matter of alternative design and cost for standard size (20’X24’) trappers’ cabin. In June 2007, Mr. Walter Dean wrote to Dr. Billy Diamond outlining his recommendation as an experimental program of an alternative design for trappers’ cabins. In the letter addressed to Dr. Billy Diamond, Mr. Dean recommended two new models, “D” log and light gauge steel. Later the light gauge steel models were changed to structural insulated panels (S.I.P.) since Crees were not used to living with “steel” gauge units but always used to living with “wood” constructed type of units.

Based on the Goyette report, in the fall of 2008 a Niskamoon Corporation pilot project started to construct some “D” log and “S.I.P.” models with a training component in the coastal Cree communities with a plan to do the same as phase II for the inland communities in the summer of 2009.

Following this experimental program, an evaluation report will have to be produced to look at cost of material, cost of labour (man/hours required to assemble each of the two models), cost of transport, quality, comfort and life span of the two new models and do a comparison with the old models for a future Trappers’ Cabin Program.

The option of the old models (2’X4’s and plywood) is still available if the local C.T.A. Committees wish to construct cabins using the old models. And they can finance their cabin program using their Local Projects Fund from C.Q.A. /C.C.A. administered by Regional C.T.A.