Page 51 - Walking_The_Red_Road

Recommendations
I think North Bay needs to have something Aboriginal-specific...Because a Native person is going to approach a social service agency a little differently than a non- Native person. And not be as...not be that advocate for themselves just because of their cultural nature.
Open up maybe another shelter that would include maybe one for, um, women and families, and one for men as well. ‘Cause I don’t think there’s any place, really, that men can go besides the Crisis Centre, right?
But even programs like a community garden program where people who maybe are homeless who can’t work, they can go for the day and help out the community garden. ...that way they can feel useful. Yeah.
So I think that ensuring that they have the social support and the advocacy to get out there and get the resources that they need, whether it be education, employment, housing, social — all those different things, you know, even programs for children who don’t speak English very well who come into the city? They really need...to bridge that language gap.
In light of the issues and challenges identified by the participants and their many suggestions for improvements, the recommendations address three main areas:
1. Cultural awareness and safety - Cultural protocols are needed for everyone involved in the housing process. It is imperative that everyone, from landlords to service providers, understands the worldviews and experiences of Aboriginal clients and community members, including the history of colonialism and in particular, the ongoing inter-generational impact of residential schools. Cultural protocols involve developing and implementing policies and standards to ensure that Aboriginal clients and community members experience cultural safety in all aspects of the housing process. Education and training is needed to support the development and implementation of the protocols.
2. Partnerships between non-aboriginal service providers and Aboriginal service providers, Elders, community members that are culturally respectful and mutually beneficial are essential to the successful development and implementation of solutions. Partners can also include universities and other interested and/or related groups. Partnerships provide access to “on the ground knowledge” and “in the air” knowledge, promote mutual sharing and learning, and allow for more accurate identification and understanding of gaps and priorities and implementation issues as they unfold. True housing support must reflect and address the life circumstances of North Bay’s Aboriginal population.
3. More accessible, culturally responsive, flexible and affordable housing supports are needed for North Bay’s Aboriginal community in general. The whole continuum of housing, from temporary shelters through to permanent dwellings, must be examined, assessed and addressed from this approach. As well, people living on fixed incomes and/or living with other challenges such as FASD or mental health and addiction challenges require carefully considered solutions and supports. Housing support should reflect the ways in which Aboriginal peoples view home and offer private, semi-independent and communal living options. Common areas and natural spaces are essential for community gatherings and events, so very important to life in our Aboriginal community.
Walking the Red Road | REPORT OF THE URBAN ABORIGINAL COMMUNITIES THRIVE PROJECT | 51
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