Indigenous people are twice as likely to live in inadequate housing as non-Indigenous people, a recent report by Amnesty International says.
Agnès Callamard, Secretary General of Amnesty International, says the report reflects Canada’s failure to uphold the right to housing for Indigenous peoples.
“Indigenous communities have the right to aspire to a bright future for their families and their children,” Callamard said. “No one should be forced to leave their community or family because they cannot find adequate housing.”
The report, Housing Crisis in Indigenous Communities in Canada: Inequality and Discrimination, is based on two years of research, with the Atikamekw community of Manawan serving as a case study. Amnesty International conducted 36 interviews in the community spanning from February to November last year.
Their findings indicated that a severe housing shortage in Manawan has forced many families into overcrowded, substandard homes. Mold and other forms of disrepair in these houses was credited for contributing to worse health outcomes and increased poverty rates within the community.
Sipi Flamand, Chief of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan, says the situation in Manawan reflects the enduring impacts of colonialism in Canada that extend far beyond the confines of his community.
“Responding to this crisis is not just about building houses; it is about rebuilding the very foundations of our communities, supporting their growth and self-determination,” Flamand said. “It is also about laying the groundwork for a renewed relationship between Indigenous Peoples and Canadian society, a relationship based on respect, equity and shared responsibility.”
Inadequate housing was identified as a contributing factor to several other crises facing Indigenous nations. Notably, France-Isabelle Langlois, Executive Director of Amnesty International Canada Francophone, said a lack of stable housing has exacerbated the MMIWG Crisis.
“This situation perpetuates the cycle of violence against women, girls, children and older persons, and contributes to keeping a large part of the community in poverty due to the lack of quality, reliable and safe housing and infrastructure,” France-Isabelle Langlois, Executive Director of Amnesty International Canada Francophone, said.
Amnesty International states that Canada has not met its obligation to ensure adequate housing for Indigenous peoples under international law, with Callamard reiterating that “the Canadian government must assume its responsibilities.”
Amnesty International and Manawan leadership call for an immediate, large-scale investment by the federal government to address this housing shortage, stressing the importance of prioritizing long-term solutions.
“In the era of reconciliation, inaction is no longer an option: it is time to move from words to action through concrete measures that finally guarantee our peoples the fundamental right to dignified housing,” Flamand said.
By Lucas-Matthew Marsh, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on May 07, 2026 at 09:08
Recent Comments