Housing Issues On and Off First Nations Reserves in Canada

• Published in: Inquiry@Queen's Undergraduate Research Conference Proceedings
• Main Author: Rowe, Ellen
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Queen's University 2016
• Subjects: Canada; Indian; First Nations
• Online Access: https://ojs.library.queensu.ca/index.php/inquiryatqueens/article/view/6194

This paper discusses the problems of the lack of certification of possession (property) and poor housing conditions within First Nation communities both on and off reserves in Canada. It argues that in the last 140 years, Indigenous peoples have become dependent on the resources provided by the Canadian government, as first agreed upon in the Indian Act of 1876. Investigating the causes, potentially including budgeting constraints or Department of Indigenous Affairs regulations will provide a clearer understanding to what are the factors causing the problems. There have been significant decreases in the amount of money given to reserve communities, which can be seen to have elevated homelessness and over-crowding in existing dwellings. As explained in the Senate Report of 2007, due to lack of housing, "16 or more members of the reserve can be found living under the same roof."[1] In this research essay, the Indian Act will be examined in order to determine what barriers exist, that continue to prevent communities on and off reserves from gaining the certification of possession in Canada and improving housing conditions. First Nations populations continue to rely on aspects of the Indian Act and any funds provided by the Federal Government, which continues to result in shortages of basic essentials such as housing. Even so, governmental policies and documents such as Senate reports or First Nations organizations remain useful in presenting new ideas for solving ramifications, across the country.