Page 48 - Walking_The_Red_Road

3. North Bay’s Aboriginal community is changing.
If I was a newcomer, which I am, coming to North Bay, I’d turn around and go back. But because I can’t really turn around and go back, I need to live here.
Well aside from the students, I think there’s also something that I’ve come to discover and that is while North Bay is primarily an Anishinaabe community, like, say twenty years ago when I first got here there would be a lot of people from Nipissing, Dokis, Temagami, Mattagami, and different close proximity Aboriginal communities. Now
if I go to any of my circle of friends, the majority of them are gonna be Cree. They’re gonna be from up north, they’re gonna be from Moose Factory, James Bay, Fort Albany, Attawapiskat.
As noted, none of the participants themselves were originally from North Bay. While they commented on the influx of students attending local colleges and some of the housing implications, they recognized there were many “newer” members to the Aboriginal community in North Bay.
4. Aboriginal community members report experiencing racism and discrimination in housing.
I’ve had...potential landlords tell me, “Oh, we don’t want seventeen people here in this house, like you people do,” you know, and that kind of thing.
And really, you know, when you’re on a fixed income it’s hard to find a half-decent apartment. Then...if you go to see these apartments, they want references; they don’t want people who are on welfare or assistance.
The participants reported experiencing racism seemingly routinely when seeking housing; those receiving disability income support reported additional discrimination.
5. Available housing isn’t affordable; the right housing isn’t available.
...there’s no in between. You know, it’s either really, “Ooh, I wouldn’t live there,” or “Oh, it’s way too expensive.”
Housing development is too slow; way too slow. And the people are coming in, and coming in.
I’ve been on the...waiting list for...Geared to Income housing for almost five years. There’s definitely a shortage of housing for families and for single men such
as myself.
Aboriginal community members face unique circumstances concerning housing, particularly when coming to live in North Bay involves learning about and adapting to mainstream cultural norms. Further, the housing desired is beyond their means or doesn’t exist.
Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT | 48
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