See the Work
Northern Cheyenne Housing Prototypes
An Ecological, Affordable Home Prototype
“The Northern Cheyenne Tribe faces a severe shortage of housing with over 800 heads of household currently enrolled on our list waiting for homes. We would like to thank Red Feather for its assistance to the Northern Cheyenne community and for their effort to bring alternative housing to our reservation.”
— Linda Simpson, Acting Executive Director,
Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing
As part of Red Feather’s American Indian Sustainable Housing Initiative, this project represents a replicable model, straw bale home for the Northern Cheyenne Nation of Western Montana. Together with other prototype homes on the Northern Cheyenne and neighboring Crow Nation, the house demonstrates that straw bale construction is an affordable and energy-efficient housing solution. In addition, these houses are constructed with community involvement, transferring straw bale construction skills to tribal members.
With participatory design coordination by Rose Fellow Nathaniel Corum, the project features homeowner-informed, culturally appropriate designs that demonstrate the use of low-impact (on both health and environment) products, passive solar and radiant heating systems, post-agricultural building materials, rainwater collection, and barrier-free design.
Northern Cheyenne Housing Prototypes on Homes Across America »
Gallery
(hover over image to zoom)
by Nathaniel Corum
Exterior view of Northern Cheyenne straw bale house prototype.
by Nathaniel Corum and Corbin Plays
Exploded diagram of construction process and materials.
by Nathaniel Corum
Floor plan of Northern Cheyenne house.
by Nathaniel Corum and Ophelia Wilkins
Rendering of Northern Cheyenne house showing native and medicinal landscaping palette.
by Nathaniel Corum and Corbin Plays
Diagram showing straw bale envelope and compact utility core strategy.
by Nathaniel Corum
‘Truth window’ showing straw bale construction through interior stucco finish.
by Nathaniel Corum
Exterior view of Northern Cheyenne straw bale house showing porch composed of salvaged materials.
Project Summary
- Location:
- Busby, Montana
Northern Cheyenne Nation - Program Scope
- 2 affordable home ownership units
- Project Status
- Completed, September 2006
- Location:
- Busby, Montana
Northern Cheyenne Nation - Project Scope
- 50 acres gross site area
- New construction
- 2,640 sq ft gross project area
- Program Scope
- 2 affordable home ownership units
- Residential Unit Profile
2 3 BR 1,200-1,400 sq ft - Cost
79,200 Hard (construction) 5,000 Soft (all other) 84,200 TOTAL - Major Funders
- Red Feather Development Group
- Enterprise Community Partners
- Oprah's Angel Network
- The Oak Hill Fund
- Community of White River
- Northern Cheyenne Tribal Housing Authority
- Individual Donors
- Project Status
- Completed, September 2006
