Pekiwewin (Coming Home): Advancing Good Relations with Indigenous People Experiencing Homelessness

This is an open-acces article outlining clinical guidelines for health and social service providers seeking to build relationships with Indigenous Peoples experiencing homelessness. 

Key Points:

•  In Canada, Indigenous people are 8 times more likely to be homeless than non-Indigenous people and represent 10%–80% of the total homeless population in large urban centres.

• The roots of Indigenous homelessness involve colonial disruptions of relationships with self, family, community, land, water, place, animals, culture and language.

• Responses to Indigenous homelessness need to be led by Indigenous Peoples and grounded in Indigenous worldviews and practices.

• Indigenous protocols regarding relationships provide a strong and practical framework for health and social service providers working with Indigenous people who are experiencing homelessness.

• The life experience of Indigenous people who are or have been homeless is an invaluable gift that can enrich communities and teach providers

Publication Date: 
2020