For many Indigenous and Black seniors, finding safe, permanent housing can be an uphill battle. The lasting impacts of residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, anti-Black racism, along with daily experiences of discrimination, have left many older adults without stable housing or access to adequate support systems. As a result, they face higher rates of homelessness and poorer health outcomes compared to other senior populations.
The Uut Uustukyuu Indigenous Healing Society, which operates out the Ahousaht First Nation on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, has been addressing the unique healing needs of Indigenous people through a trauma-informed and culturally grounded approach.
Grouard Mission, a hamlet on Treaty 8 territory in Northern Alberta, is rich in Indigenous history and home to a primarily Indigenous population. Its cemetery, with the earliest recorded burials dating back to 1873, holds the stories of generations past. Among the 1,500 residents buried there, 221 are presumed to be children from the Indian Residential School in Grouard. As the years pass, Elders in the community fear that the identities of those laid to rest may fade into history.
Indigenous communities face significant mental health challenges, many of which are deeply tied to the lasting effects of colonialism. Intergenerational trauma, poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity have created an environment where mental health struggles are prevalent. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 5 Indigenous adults reported mental health issues - double the rate of non-Indigenous adults.
Many Indigenous people living in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside (DTES) face significant challenges related to substance use. The cycle of addiction - often rooted in historical trauma and marginalization - can make it hard to see a future beyond their immediate surroundings. While the DTES provides a sense of community, it can also be a difficult place to escape the grip of addiction.
The Indigenous and Non-Indigenous Peoples Reconciliation Committee of the Archdiocese of Ottawa-Cornwall is dedicated to promoting healing and reconciliation within the diocesan community. Their mission is to ensure that the voices of Indigenous people are heard and that everyone feels welcome to participate in community activities.
Situated along the shores of Lake Erie, Ontario, Caldwell First Nation (CFN) is the newest established First Nation in Canada. Since receiving designated reserve lands in 2020, CFN has been working to reconnect with their lost language and culture. Every living member has been affected by Residential Schools, Adult Day Schools, and the 60s Scoop, resulting in a significant loss of connection to their Ojibwe Anishinaabemowin language and cultural practices.
High school graduation is a critical milestone that helps youth transition successfully into adulthood and contribute to their communities. In Canada, there are significant gaps between non-Indigenous and Indigenous students' literacy skills, reflecting the intergenerational harm of residential schools.
The Rock Your Roots: Walk for Reconciliation in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan is held annually on June 21, National Indigenous Peoples Day. It brings together community members to honour residential school Survivors, foster a shared understanding of Canada’s true history, and build relationships among Indigenous people, non-Indigenous Canadians and newcomers to Canada.
St. Mary's Wellness and Education is a school facility that was established in the Pleasant Hill Community of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan over 100 years ago. About 90% of its students are of Indigenous ancestry. The community continues to feel the traumatic effects of residential schools and has a strong need for community-building initiatives, inter-generational education, and healing programs.
