Poverty and Homelessness Action Week
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, observed from October 20-25, prompts reflection on the causes of disproportionate poverty and homelessness among Canada's Indigenous people.
Acknowledging the historical context, it is essential to recognize the ongoing impact of colonial harms, including the legacy of residential schools, which has led to intergenerational trauma and suffering.
The Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program offers a hotline for residential school survivors and their relatives to cope with trauma invoked by the recall of past abuse.
Causes of Disproportionate Poverty and Homelessness
Poverty and homelessness among Indigenous peoples are not accidental or a result of individual failure. Rather, they are the ongoing outcome of colonial systems, policies, and structures designed to displace, dispossess, and dehumanize Indigenous people.
Personal Reflections
The author has written numerous short stories about their life, highlighting the need for ongoing discussion and awareness about these issues.
Author's summary: Reflecting on colonial harms during Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.