Affordable Indigenous Housing Dialogue

Join us for a day of dialogue focused on one of our region’s most pressing concerns, affordable Indigenous housing. Convened by Simon Fraser University’s Community Engaged Research initiative (CERi) and Indigenous Studies, this gathering welcomes policy makers, developers, community leaders, researchers, financial agencies and others committed to thoughtful action Together we will share knowledge and experiences and identify ways to support ongoing positive change.

The dialogue will feature Indigenous-led developments, aimed at addressing the over-representation of Indigenous people in the city’s homeless population. Among the key projects discussed will be the 6,000-unit Sen̓áḵw development led by the Squamish Nation, the Ho'-kee-melh Kloshe Lum project on 1015 E Hastings, Chief Leonard George House and projects by societies like Lu'ma Native Housing and DTES Land Trust.

Pre-registration is required: Register now

9:00 - 9:30 AM - Welcome and Setting the Table for Conversation

Opening Remarks

• Dr. Wenona Hall, Chair, Indigenous Studies, Simon Fraser University

Territorial Welcome

• Deborah Baker (Ancestral name K’ana), Director, Indigenous Partnerships and Investments, Vancity Community Foundation

9:30 – 10:30 AM - Opening Keynote: Khelsilem

Affordability for Whom? Policy Tools for Indigenous Housing That’s Needed

Khelsilem will offer his definition of the affordability problem and provide an picture of the current BC policy landscape. Lessons learned, policy tools worth fighting for and a call to shared advocacy will stimulate questions and dialogue with the participants.

Bio: Khelsilem is Squamish-Kwakwaka'wakw. His work sits at the intersection of Indigenous governance and housing policy, with direct experience overseeing the development of both market and non-market housing. He brings an understanding of what it takes to move housing projects forward and attention to the systems that shape what gets built, for whom, and on whose terms. His work focuses on the policy tools available to Indigenous communities and governments to address the housing affordability crisis in British Columbia, including how affordability itself is defined within government funding frameworks. Khelsilem is particularly interested in how to deliver Indigenous-led housing models. He has written and spoken on Indigenous rights, reconciliation policy, and self-determination in British Columbia. He is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at the University of Victoria.

Moderator:

Dr. Wenona Hall, Chair, Indigenous Studies, Simon Fraser University

10:30 – 10:45 - Break

10:45 – 11:45 PM - Research Roundtable

This session focuses on the current state of housing affordability for Urban Indigenous People in Vancouver. How many urban Indigenous people are unhoused in Vancouver? What about those who cannot afford decent housing? What research informs a reimagining of housing policy in the city?

Speaker:

• Dr. Alexandra Flynn, Associate Professor and Associate Dean, Graduate Studies and Professional Programs; Director, Housing Research Collaborative, University of British Columbia
• Andy Yan, Director City Program and Associate Professor, Urban Studies, Simon Fraser University

Moderator:

• Joanna Ashworth, SFU CERi

11:45 – 1:00 – Lunch - Special Guest Performance

Sponsored by Vancity Community Foundation

1:00 – 2:00 - Roundtable Dialogue - Promising Practice

Affordable Urban Indigenous Housing Stories: Innovative Market and Non-market development models, Land Trusts, Neighbourhood Associations, Indigenous Friendship Centres. Roundtable participants bring perspectives on multigenerational housing, communal vs market housing; land=connection, housing = community; trauma informed housing, finance and new models of non-profit housing. Together they will consider the gaps and opportunities for action.

Speakers:

• Brenda Knights, Chief Executive Officer of BC Indigenous Housing Society (TBC)
• Norm Leech, President, DTES Land Trust
• Patrick Stewart, Senior Director, Lu’uma Native Housing Society
• Robyn Chan, False Creek South, Neighbourhood Association
• William Azaroff, CEO, Brightside Housing

Moderator:

• Dr. Wenona Hall, Chair, Indigenous Studies, Simon Fraser University

2:00 PM - Break

2:15 – 3:30 PM– Small Groups –Where do we go from here?

• Where are the possibilities and what are the enabling conditions for change?

3:30 – 4:00 PM – Closing Circle: A Call to Shared Advocacy

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher SFU Community-Engaged Research Initiative (CERi)