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AMC calls on federal, provincial to work with First Nations leaders to address homelessness

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs (AMC) is calling on the federal and provincial governments to address homelessness in Canada.

In a statement Tuesday, the AMC said the work at both levels of government should be done in tandem with First Nations Leadership.

“Governments continue to operate under a racist and corrupt colonial system that fails to serve the interests of First Nations people. A just solution to the housing crisis cannot be found in the very system that created and perpetuates these problems,” said AMC Grand Chief Cathy Merrick.

“This disparity highlights the interconnectedness of housing and health in First Nations worldviews, a perspective that is underrepresented in Canada's systems and institutions.”

The AMC pointed to the 2022 Winnipeg Street Census, which found that 51 per cent of respondents identified First Nations status.

According to AMC, the census also showed a common pathway to homelessness was through involvement in the child welfare system, as 50 percent of respondents had previously been in the child welfare system and experienced homelessness within a year of leaving it.

“The complexity of these issues requires a collaborative effort with First Nations leadership to identify First Nations-led solutions that are not made by our people but are disproportionately affected,” concluded Grand Chief Merrick.

Rogers Radio News

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