The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness posted a profoundly wise complexification of indigenous homelessness. Indigenous peoples from across nations within Canada identified 12 dimensions of indigenous homelessness.
These 12 dimensions expose a few realms inviting my deeper listening. One such realm, is how profound collective & personal human connect to place might actually be. I am profoundly impacted by the personal, communal, cultural, spiritual, emotional, and physical rupture resulting from relational rupture of a people from their land as attested to through these 12 dimensions. And linked to that rupture is attending to the rupture(s) that might be alive in me as an descendent of European colonizers who dislocated themselves from their connection to land, heritage, and belonging in coming to the Americas to dislocate people in creating a better life for themselves. Also sensing so much gratitude for wise leaders like Jessi Thistle, and his team who lead the process of listening deeply to the experiences of indigenous peoples across Canada.
BTW – Lead researcher, Jessi Thistle is also the best selling author of From the Ashes. You can find out more about this research at the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness. Its website sates:
Indigenous homelessness is a human condition that describes First Nations, Métis and Inuit individuals, families or communities lacking stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means or ability to acquire such housing. Unlike the common colonialist definition of homelessness, Indigenous homelessness is not defined as lacking a structure of habitation; rather, it is more fully described and understood through a composite lens of Indigenous worldviews. These include: individuals, families and communities isolated from their relationships to land, water, place, family, kin, each other, animals, cultures, languages and identities. Importantly, Indigenous people experiencing these kinds of homelessness cannot culturally, spiritually, emotionally or physically reconnect with their Indigeneity or lost relationships (Aboriginal Standing Committee on Housing and Homelessness, 2012).
The Canadian Observatory on Homelessness
Peace, dwight
