Meet the Team: Michael Gagnon, Contractor

Meet our Contractor Michael Gagnon. Michael has been in the construction industry for fifty years, working with various contractors until he took ownership of UMD Home in 2005. Though Michael retired in 2018, he is still licensed and active. A year ago, he agreed to help us with Tsé Bii's mission, and has done great work for Effie and Helen's homes. During spring, he worked on Helen and Effie’s homes, most notably completing difficult roofing jobs, installing a bathroom and kitchen areas, getting Effie’s home ready to take on solar power, and so much more.

His favorite part of Tsé Bii’ has been getting back in the game. He loves seeing a project come together and help making it happen. Like any project, however; there are challenges and obstacles with each build. What has been the most challenging is the remoteness of Monument Valley, not just in the accessibility of resources, but being far away from home!

He’s back now in Monument Valley and as he goes into his second term of contracting and working on completing Effie and Helen’s homes, we asked him to reflect on the most rewarding part of this kind of work. He says, “Trying, in a minuscule way, to help right a most tragic wrong… not sure if tragic is a strong enough word.” Through this work, Michael has seen the great disparities and inequity gaps between water, electrical, and resource accessibility. It has been a great honor to be part of a project that can help change the lives of those who have never had running water in their homes to shower, a refrigerator to keep milk or medications, and a home that can stay warm and dry during monsoon season.