Concerns over Indigenous Services Canada (ISC)’s February updates to Jordan’s Principle have prompted serious discussions at two Tripartite Forum Committee meetings in March – that of the Health Committee, and the Social Committee.

At these meetings, committee members reviewed the federal changes and what they could mean for Mi’kmaq communities in Mi’kma’ki/Nova Scotia.

Federal level changes include new guidelines around operating procedures related to processing requests, and new rules around achieving substantive equality.

There is concern that these changes could lead to barriers in the provision of services to Mi’kmaq youth.

Both committees will reconvene later this spring, to discuss and explore a response or ways to support those affected by the changes at a joint meeting.

The late February event at the Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Center in Halifax proceeded without a hitch, providing a culturally friendly space for housing and homelessness related service providers across the 13 Mi’kmaq communities of NS to share their successes, and discuss challenges, noted Cheyenne Labrador and Vivian Mcdonald, coordinators of the event.

The symposium’s first day entailed a panel, where participants shared personal experiences and firsthand anecdotes about homelessness.

The panel was informative, helping to lay a “foundation and context of the gathering” that helped participants focus on solutions during the symposium’s second day, the organizers stated.

Community resource providers presented during the symposium’s second day – a cohort that included:

• The Diamond Bailey Healing Centre
• The Native Council of Nova Scotia (indigenous Reaching Home Program)
• The Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association (Cedar House, Housing Support Program and Tiny Homes)
• The PATH Process (Indigenous Housing Assessment Tool) piloted by the Mi’kmaw Friendship Centre

Discussions included a panel on the social determinants of homelessness, taking into account external factors and variables that contribute to Indigenous homelessness. These include domestic violence, human trafficking, justice and incarceration factors, mental health an addictions and Indigenous children aging out of care.

The four participating panelists hosted breakout sessions later that day, with all attendees. These sessions provided insight into the perspectives of, and challenges faced by Indigenous communities. The breakout sessions yielded many potential solutions to the dynamics perpetuating Indigenous homelessness, found in the thorough conversations that took place.

Participants in the symposium included representatives from:

• Eskasoni Mi’kmaw Nation
• Paqtnkek Mi’kmaq Nation
• Millbrook First Nation
• Pictou Landing First Nation
• Membertou First Nation
• Glooscap First Nation
• Waycobah (We’Koqma’q) First Nation

Also in attendance were representatives from,

• The Mi’kmaq Legal Support Network
• The Affordable Housing Association of Nova Scotia
• The Union of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq
• The Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nation Chiefs
• The Office of L’nu Affairs
• Mi’kmaw Child and Family Services
• The Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association
• The Native Council of Nova Scotia
• The Halifax Regional Centre for Education
• The Indigenous Community Advisory Board of NS
• The Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre (multiple departments)

Cheyenne and Vivian were encouraged to see the significant turnout, and the active participation in the conversations that took place over the two days of the event from all attendees. Guests and speakers built connections at the symposium, which served as hub for professional networking, which could potentially lead to future partnerships.

The symposium is one of four projects supported by the Tripartite Forum’s Project Fund For Social and Economic Change, receiving approval in late 2024 after review from a panel of Executive Committee and Secretariat members.

Halifax-based Evitan Consulting was hired to assess and organize all the input from the symposium’s participants. With that information, they will be building a report on Indigenous homelessness, contributing factors and what resources currently exist – and how those resources can be used to address homelessness in an actionable manner, aligning with the 94 Calls to Action by the National Truth and Reconciliation Commission.