Poverty and Homelessness Action Week
Poverty and Homelessness Action Week, which takes place from October 20-25, prompts us to consider the causes of disproportionate poverty and homelessness among Canada's Indigenous people.
A critical factor to acknowledge is the ongoing impact of colonial harms, including the legacy of residential schools. For those affected by the trauma of past abuse, the Indian Residential Schools Resolution Health Support Program offers a hotline for support.
Poverty and homelessness among Indigenous peoples is not an accident or a result of individual failure. It is the ongoing outcome of colonial systems, policies, and structures that were designed to displace, dispossess, and dehumanize Indigenous people.
The author reflects on their personal experiences, having written many short stories about their life, highlighting the need to address the root causes of these issues.
Author's summary: Reflecting on colonial harms during Poverty and Homelessness Action Week.