Does A Papal Apology Bode Well For Indigenous Housing In Canada?

On April 1, 2022, Pope Francis apologized for the harms caused to children in the residential school system in Canada. The apology came at the end of a week of meetings with with representatives from First Nations, Métis and Inuit people. The CBC carried a story about the apology, which you can access here: Pope Francis apologizes to Indigenous delegates for ‘deplorable’ abuses at residential schools

Some of the people who were in Rome and witnessed the apology were cautiously optimistic:

“Today is a day that we’ve been waiting for and certainly one that will be uplifted in our history.”

Canada’s Prime Minister also struck a hopeful note, calling the apology a step forward “in acknowledging the truth of our past.”

Following Confederation, the Canadian government was a prime mover of the plan to ‘civilize’ Indigenous children in distant boarding schools. Churches supplied the country’s brutal taskmasters. Separated from their homes and relatives, often by vast distances, those who didn’t die (and there were many who did) were permanently scarred by the experience.

Today, along with the legacy of ‘civilizing,’ decent housing is a major preoccupation of the country’s Indigenous populations.

Will the expression of hope by the Prime Minister and others translate to better housing for First Nations, Métis and Inuit people? Canada’s National Housing Strategy acknowledged the challenge in 2017. Figuring out a way forward was bound to take time, especially given the ‘difficult’ history and the amount of work that is needed to fix the housing where Indigenous people live.  Two recent events are hopeful signs:

• A report from the National Housing Council¹, which discusses steps toward improving housing for Indigenous people in urban, rural and northern communities. The National Housing Council lays out three options for management to be led and administered by Indigenous people. As well, the report recommends short term actions to make immediate improvements and identifies issues still to be addressed. Read more at the National Housing Council: Report and Recommendations to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion on Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing
• The Liberal government and the New Democratic Party reached a “supply and confidence” agreement on Mar 22, 2022. The agreement means that on specific government policy actions, the New Democratic Party will support the Liberal government. The agreement commits to housing investment for indigenous people in the 2022 budget. As well, the agreement specifies that First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities will “determine how the housing investments are designed and delivered.” Read more from The Prime Minister here: Delivering for Canadians Now

Canada’s Government has a great opportunity to move ahead when it tables its 2022 budget on April 7.

1. Canada’s National Housing Council is charged with keeping Canada moving along in its commitment to the human right to adequate housing. The Council consulted with Indigenous representatives from across the country to prepare the report.