Indigenous people are overrepresented among the homeless population in the northern region of Manitoba. Factors contributing to their homelessness and restraining their movement out of homelessness in urban and remote communities in the north are not well understood. To help improve this understanding, this research sought to explore the experiences of people with lived experience of housing instability and homelessness and their knowledge of their circumstances and needs in order to increase awareness and support to improve conditions for people in the northern region of Manitoba. This research was developed in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Thompson, Manitoba from 2018-2020. Using Community Based Participatory Research as our foundation we used participatory methods including interviews, focus groups and community cafés.
This event is the launch of “Displacement, Housing and Homelessness in Northern Manitoba Communities” by Lee Ann Deegan and Marleny Bonnycastle. Elder Agnes Spence will start the event off in a good way. Lou Moodie, Chair of the housing board in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation discuss housing conditions in the north. Lawrie Deane will provide an overview of the MRA’s Indigenization of Thompson research project.
About the panelists:
Lawrie Deane is a Senior Scholar in the Faculty of Social Work at the University of Manitoba.
C. Lee Anne Deegan, MSW RSW currently lives in Thompson and is an instructor in the University of Manitoba Northern Social Work Program.
Agnes Spence is an Elder from Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation. Agnes has worked for many years as an addiction specialist and regional minister in Northern Manitoba.
Lou Moodie is the Chair of the housing board in Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and a motivational speaker.
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is a non-profit charitable research institute specializing in community-based, policy-oriented research. This research was funded by the Manitoba Research Alliance via the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.