Strengthening the Urban-Rural Indigenous Wellness Continuum
THE ISSUE:
Significant gaps exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Life expectancy for Indigenous peoples is an astounding 15 to 20 years shorter than that of those non-Indigenous. Of the 1.8 million Indigenous people living in Canada in 2021, 18.8 percent lived in a low-income household, nearly double that of the non-Indigenous population; about one-third of First Nations people living on reserve live in a low-income household. Inadequate housing conditions are a major issue, with Indigenous people being three times more likely to live in a dwelling in need of major repairs, and two times more likely to live in crowded housing.
A panel discussion at IPSS 2023 explored some of the ways industry partners, organizations, governments, and Indigenous communities themselves can help close those gaps.
Anita Huberman, Chief David Jimmie, Jocelyn Formsma and Trent Zacharias at the 2023 Indigenous Partnerships Success Showcase.
Jocelyn Formsma, CEO, National Association of Friendship Centres, Trent Zacharias, Director of Community and Indigenous Affairs, Cenovus Energy, and Chief David Jimmie of the Squiala Nation and President of the Stó:lō Nation Chiefs' Council all agree—addressing Indigenous housing, in both rural and urban areas, is a complex issue full of challenges.
For Cenovus Energy, one solution has been its Indigenous Housing Initiative, which commits $50 million to build homes in six First Nations and Métis communities.
“Our CEO was relatively new to the company,” says Zacharias. “One of the first things he wanted to do was to go out into the various First Nations and Métis communities closest to some of our biggest operations. And he really asked them a very simple and direct question. It was, ‘What are your challenges and how can we be helpful with that?’ And with all of them, the challenge was housing. It's not to say that there weren't other challenges, but the thing that came out as that biggest challenge that they were looking for some support and guidance on from a corporation was on housing.”
He says that the answer wasn’t that surprising. “The biggest surprise was that, as a company, we fully recognized that and were prepared to step into a space that, quite frankly, up to that point, most other companies, including Cenovus, would say, ‘You know, we appreciate that, but really housing is something that's a government responsibility, and we're prepared to help you over here.’”
So far, 80 homes have been built; another 40 will be added within the next year.
While Chief Jimmie applauds such an initiative, he notes that industry partners should exercise caution when thinking they can just “throw a bunch of money at (a problem)” or “come into a community and dictate how things are going to happen.”
Zacharias agrees. “It's really hard sometimes for corporations to resist the temptation to go in and be problem solvers. I think we've all done that. It comes from a good place, but that's not what we should be doing. We should be listening and then working together to action those problems.
“The choices that we make as a company and the actions that we take can have a significant impact on wellness and communities, both negative or positive, depending on those choices that we make and how we show up at a community level when it comes to wellness. The thing that I think of the most is really the importance of listening and taking time to go into the communities and actually have those conversations about what some of their challenges are, what those wellness pieces are that they're dealing with, and how we might be able to help.”
Understanding that providing housing was only part of the solution, Cenovus also worked with Portage College on a 24-week Construction and Trades Readiness Program geared towards home construction and maintenance training opportunities for members of the six partner communities.
Housing availability and affordability is an issue Indigenous people in both rural and urban settings face. Jimmie says many in his community “don't have an opportunity outside of the reserve. If you're going out and you're paying $1,800 a month just for your rent, but under the old CMHC housing opportunities you're paying like $400, who wants to go off reserve? And so, for a lot of people that grow up in the community, this is all they've ever known, and this is all they've ever seen. So, there is no interest to live off reserve.”
Yet, more than 44 percent of Indigenous people currently live in large urban centres. As Formsma notes, if they wanted to move back home, there is simply no housing available.
“The reality is most indigenous peoples are urban based now … Part of it is due to the lack of investment in First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities.”
Drawing Change Illustration by Erica Bota.
The National Association of Friendship Centres is the largest urban Indigenous-led organization. Founded over 70 years ago, it provides a wide range of services to more than a million people every year. It is one of over 6,000 urban Indigenous organizations working across the country.
“A lot of times organizations like ours are on the front lines of providing employment and training, getting people employment ready, keeping them employment ready, providing transportation, providing healthcare, wraparound supports, children's programs, childcare, housing, shelter, whether it's emergency or affordable.”
She says they’ve found there is “a policy gap with the governments with respect to Indigenous peoples who are living in urban spaces.”
In particular, “you can't just build the housing and then we're done. It's the supportive housing, it's the wraparound services that are offered in addition to that housing.”
Yet she notes that having adequate housing is a critical foundation. “If you don't have a safe place to go home at night, it's really hard to get some of these other things lined up.”
Zacharias holds the same position. “I think everything starts with a good roof over your head. If you're dealing with challenges, doesn't matter if it's education or other issues, if you don't have a roof over your head or a place to go, everything gets just a little bit harder.”
The National Association of Friendship Centres has also found that Indigenous people travelling to urban areas to access healthcare services not available closer to home require support.
“They're putting themselves at risk of racism and negative interactions with the healthcare system,” says Formsma. “Some of the work that we've been trying to do more, particularly in the East, is actually establish healthcare centers that operate out of the friendship centers, so that it's all owned and operated by the community. And then we've also built in some social economy work. One of the centers, for example, on the east coast in Newfoundland, they have a transportation business and a medical hostel.
“Think about somebody who's pregnant and there's complications with pregnancy, or somebody who might be there for extended cancer care or diabetes care. And they're alone in the city, they can't have anybody come with them or maybe one other person. The center also makes sure that they have access to culture and community support while they're there.”
Jimmie says that Indigenous communities themselves also have a role in providing necessary supports.
“We've got 30 policies of support, from post-secondary education, because we don't get funding for trades education, to elder support, and for those with disabilities. Every child in our community, we pay for their registration for sports, we pay an annual amount that can go towards equipment. Those are the policies that we have in place that enable the communities. All of our members to have access to something that I didn't grow up with.”
He also suggests looking beyond the federal and provincial governments for support. Developing relationships with local municipalities and organizations can be especially fruitful. He mentions the Chilliwack Tourism Board and its Síyá:ya Yóyes Friends Working (Together) Plan.
“Allison Colthorp, an amazing executive director for the organization, she was very firm in her position about building out what reconciliation actually looks like. And so Síyá:ya Yóyes Friends Working (Together) Plan was an implementation plan on reconciliation, which is the first of its kind in BC, probably across the country. So, when you've got willing partners and people advocating for that relationship piece, I think it's important. And they're putting it into practice.”
Sponsored by Cenovus.