TARP Presentation: Aboriginal Men, Homelessness and Housing
TARP Presentation: Aboriginal Women and Children
1. Overview of Session
• Elder Opening
• Welcome and Introductions
• Presentation
• Discussion and Q&A
• Elder Closing and Blessing
• Lunch
www.tassc.ca
2. TORONTO ABORIGINAL SUPPORT
SERVICES COUNCIL (TASSC) Presents…
Toronto Aboriginal Research Project (TARP)
Results & Recommendations:
Aboriginal Women &
Aboriginal Children
3. Love
Respect
Courage
Honesty
Wisdom
Humility
Truth
1st Annual Decolonizing Indigenous Health Research
16. “An Aboriginal woman with the family is the
rock. She keeps the family together. They are
getting stronger. We were strong before, but
now we are stronger.”
(Aboriginal Women’s Focus Group)
www.tassc.ca
18. CHART 6B: Women and Occupation Type
(Quantitative n=292)
Other Retail
6% 8%
Service
Industry
13%
Education
9% Professional/
Construction/ Managerial
trades 38%
2% Human
Services
17%
Health
7%
www.tassc.ca
21. CHART 6E: Housing Situation of
Aboriginal Women
(Quantitative n=478)
Rented
apartment, cond
Live in a house ominium or
38% house
52%
Stay with
family, friends, s
helter, on the
streets
10%
www.tassc.ca
23. “Our Aboriginal men who have been mislead by
the dominant society, our men are starting to
recognize how much of an honor it is to be an
Aboriginal woman; that we are to be respected.
It got a little washed out over the years. They
were taught that men were supposed to be
stronger, but now they are being taught that
women should be held in esteem.”
(Aboriginal Women’s Focus Group)
www.tassc.ca
25. CHART 6C: Single Parent Households by Total
Family Income
(Quantitative n=126)
45%
40%
35%
30%
25%
20%
15%
10%
5%
0%
0 - 10,000 CAD $10,001 - $20,001 - $40,001 - $60,001 and
dollars 20,000 40,000 60,000 greater
single divorced/separated widowed
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26. CHART 6D: Single Parent Families as a Major
Cause of Stress for Youth
(Quantitative n=482)
little or not
important
2%
important or
very important moderately
91% important
7%
www.tassc.ca
28. “Stereotypes stop many native women from
being what they could be. They try so hard to
be anything but native. Women try to live to a
certain standard, not to fall into that negative
stereotype is very hard.”
(Aboriginal Women’s Focus Group)
www.tassc.ca
64. Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council
16 Spadina Road
Contact us
Toronto, ON M5R 2S7
Phone: (647) 748-6100
Fax: (647) 748-0699
Email: jbull@tassc.ca
Website: www.tassc.ca
www.tassc.ca
Editor's Notes
Urban Aboriginal identity is complex and nuanced and very difficult to empirically quantify. It involves complex processes pertaining to how one self-identifies (e.g. sense of self, family background, personality, socialization experiences etc.) as well as how members of the larger society perceive them (e.g. positive or negative stereotypes, media images, effects of residential schools and colonization etc.). An individual’s identity is about “meaning” and is formed and maintained as a social process of interaction with others. Identities are both individually unique and collectively shared. Further, individuals have multiple identities based on such factors as race, gender, age, social class, occupation, nationality etc. and can change over time. Therefore, defining oneself as an Aboriginal person in a complex urban centre like Toronto where individuals are involved in numerous roles can be challenging. Some people consider that a connection to a “traditional” Aboriginal culture is fundamental to an individual’s identity. This sometimes entails a relationship to the land, knowledge of an Aboriginal language, understanding of traditional teachings and participation in cultural ceremonies. Others speak of the idea of Aboriginal “blood memory” as a biological component of an individual’s ancestry regardless of their connection to traditional culture. While the research demonstrates that a significant number of people retain connections to their community of origin for cultural maintenance purposes, for others living in the city this is not a viable option. For the vast majority of the TARP respondents their identity as an Aboriginal person is central to their sense of who they are. Thus, for many urban Aboriginal people in Toronto other “markers” of identity are important. Some respondents suggested that the values and attitudes as well as how you live your life are critical to your Aboriginal identity. Values of caring, sharing, respect and honesty are hallmarks of Aboriginal culture. Others spoke of the shared experiences and common ways of behaving that characterize the lives of most Aboriginal people are important for an individual’s identity. Yet others emphasize the feeling of belonging and connections to a common culture and community are keys to their identity. Being a member of a group with common “status” such as First Nation, Métis or Inuit or being from the same community of origin can be a meaningful marker of identity. Participating in Aboriginal activities such as pow wows, feasts and socials, arts events and cultural ceremonies are important ways for some to reinforce their identity. In other words, there are many complex and nuanced aspects of creating an Aboriginal identity in the city and each individual is unique. The question of how individuals negotiate their individual and collective cultural identity is an unanswered question in research. There is, therefore, a need for further research on this topic. The role that organizations play in supporting identity formation and development must be responsive to the needs of the current generation of Aboriginal people, whether the first, second or third generation of Aboriginal urban residents. The significance of Aboriginal organizations in Toronto, either through social service agencies, economic development or through the arts provide a supportive environment and multi-disciplinary opportunities to build positive identities for Aboriginal people is integral to the growth of the community. Urban identity formation has only been examined in recent years; however we see that it has been happening for decades at the grassroots level around kitchen tables across the city. The research has showed the significant link between Aboriginal organizations and identity formation for Aboriginal people in Toronto. In addition, many Aboriginal people maintain links with their community of origin to support their culture and identity. As mentioned, the Aboriginal population in Toronto has shifted in recent years. It is no longer composed exclusively of recent migrant from First Nation or Métis communities. The urban Aboriginal population is now more diverse with varied identities, including many individual with “mixed” cultural identities. Aboriginal organizations are increasingly challenged to respond to this new diverse group of Aboriginal people. Some community members are survivors of residential schools and have experienced elements of traditional culture from being raised in their communities. Others may have little or no ties to their Aboriginal community of origin and are reliant on the urban Aboriginal urban community to provide them with a culture foundation. Respondents felt strongly that there was a need for a dedicated culture centre that was separate from social service agencies (See Recommendation # 42). As well, there was a perceived dominance of Anishnawbe people and culture in present Aboriginal organizations which tended to hinder community members from other groups from learning about their own cultures and traditions and contributed to the divisiveness within the Aboriginal community. An important issue articulated in the research was the loss of Aboriginal languages. Eighty-one percent of respondents were unable to converse in their Aboriginal language. Language is a very important component of culture.
To begin, I’d like to introduce you to the concept of two – eyed seeing. This concept is from Mi’kmaq Elder, Albert Marshall and refers to a co-learning model where people come together to learn from each other, balancing western and indigenous worldviews.As we go through the presentation today, I encourage you all to consider looking at the information we give to you from multiple perspective or lenses, recognizing that by bringing the best of both worlds together, we can make really amazing things happen.
So what we want to do here today is to just give you the landscape of Aboriginal issues in Torontohttp://www.flickr.com/photos/blmiers2/6889062849/sizes/o/in/photostream/
What is TASSC?Formally the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services AssociationHistory/ evolution http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattyp/17036700/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Social determinants of healthhttp://indivision.ca/imageland//3353.jpg
Aboriginal social determinants of health http://phprimer.afmc.ca/sites/default/files/primer_versions/57540/primer_images/image5.jpg?1321286981
One of the major contributions of TASSC to the Toronto Aboriginal Community is commissioning the Toronto Aboriginal Research Project. Describe TARP….history and evolutionhttp://gravityinc.ca/portfolio/graphics/tarp/aboriginal-report-1.jpg
The TARP is distinctive in that its approach to research is community-based. That is, the research is overseen from start to finish by representatives of the Toronto Aboriginal community. Specifically, the study was guided by the following principles: collaboration, community benefit and the implementation of results. Thus, the research was sponsored by the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) and overseen by the TARP Research Steering Committee. TASC is a non-profit organization composed of senior representatives of Aboriginal agencies whose primary activity is the delivery of services to the Aboriginal people of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The TARP Research Steering Committee was a partnership between TASSC, representatives of Toronto Aboriginal organizations and federal, provincial and city of Toronto government officials. The Toronto Aboriginal support Services Council (TASSC) was formally the Toronto Aboriginal support Services Association (TASSA). This project used both qualitative and quantitative methodologies. To do that, we used a combination of several methods:SurveysInterviewsFocus GroupsLife HistoriesCase StudiesPhotovoicehttp://jeps.efpsa.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/yin_yang.png
What we’ve found in the TARP report (and elsewhere) is that we can really accomplish some amazing things when we work together. So throughout this presentation, we will highlight some of the ways that you can get involved or work with us, if you aren’t already.http://www.flickr.com/photos/lollyman/4424552903/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Aboriginal women in an urban context are not one homogenous group. They come from different communities with different traditions and languages. We know that Aboriginal women “constitute a vibrant and highly diverse segment of Canada’s population, who share a common legacy of marginalization and oppression.” Aboriginal women comprise a large proportion of the respondents in this project. The women were from various backgrounds, communities, occupied many professions, socio-economic status and had profound insights into the circumstances facing Aboriginal people, particularly women in Toronto. There are several Aboriginal agencies that provide service, programs and support for Aboriginal women. Additionally there are programs across many Aboriginal agencies that directly provide service and support for Aboriginal women. Across many Aboriginal cultures, the role of women as caregivers, life-givers and providers are salient. Dion-Stout, M. & Kipling, G. (1998). Aboriginal women in Canada: Strategic research directions for policy development. Canada: Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data.Aboriginal Women have two main agencies that are there solely for the purpose of supporting them. Anduhyuan Women’s Shelter and the Native Women’s Resource Centre provide important services for women who are fleeing domestic violence and require housing, or for resources around parenting, housing, employment and education. A list of the Aboriginal Women’s support agencies is listed at the end of this chapter. Aboriginal women face a complex set of challenges as they struggle to survive and thrive in an urban setting. The data from the community surveys and focus groups provided some important insight into these complexities. The major themes indicated through the research includes income, both in terms of poverty and financial success, single family households, housing, relationships, discrimination, leadership and addictions and recovery. These issues are also discussed in other chapters and are also intimately linked. http://www.flickr.com/photos/lac-bac/7157360679/
Aboriginal women in Toronto are both thriving economically as professionals and home owners as well as dealing with poverty in raising children in lone parent households.The challenges for Aboriginal women often include multiple, overlapping issues such as poverty, housing, relationships, discrimination and addictions.Leadership both within the organizations, but also within traditional roles of Elders is a significant role that Aboriginal women play in Toronto which provides a source of mentoring for younger Aboriginal women and their families. http://www.flickr.com/photos/linecon0/1418535765/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Despite the majority of women earning between $20-40,000 per year, there is a high percentage of them who work in a professional or managerial role. This is significant because it likely means that they have completed some form of post secondary education and they have more opportunities to improve their careers and improve the lives of their families. In addition to their own income and professional positions, if they are in a committed relationship, there is a likelihood that their spouse is also working in a professional role. However, if they are working in such roles in an Aboriginal social service or non-profit setting, their salaries will likely be lower than mainstream business or industry due to the significant disparities in funding for these organizations.
In Toronto specifically, Aboriginal women have played an important role as community mobilizers and leaders. Howard Bobiwash (2003) describes the transition that Aboriginal women underwent compared to Aboriginal men in migrating Toronto. She describes the post World War II era that saw many Aboriginal women coming to urban centres with relatively transferable job skills such as domestic work which provided them with many opportunities to establish themselves comfortably. It should be no surprise for us to see Aboriginal women continuing to take leadership roles armed with a new set of skills and education. Notably, the Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) have experience running the Building Aboriginal Women’s Leadership (BAWL) Program, in partnership with Accenture, Microsoft and ACOSYS Consulting. Bobiwash-Howard, H. (2003). Women’s Class Struggles as Activism in Native Community Building, 1950-1975. American Indian Quarterly, 27(3/4), 566-582.For more information on the Building Aboriginal Women’s Leadership (BAWL) Program program please see: (http://www.onwa-tbay.ca/pages/building-aboriginal-womens-leadership).The Aboriginal social service organizations have high proportions of Aboriginal women, as well as Aboriginal women taking the organizational leaders as members of Board of Directors, Managers and Executive Directors. Five out of eleven social service agencies are run by Aboriginal women in roles such as Executive Directors or Board Designates. The Aboriginal arts agencies are also heavily saturated by Aboriginal women both as staff, board of directors and administrative leaders. This type of leadership is important because it allows the organizations to be shaped and run in ways that often resemble traditional decision making models and focuses on values such as honouring family, children and youth. http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/olechowski/olechowski1206/olechowski120600036/14255691-leadership-concept-in-word-tag-cloud-on-white-background.jpg
Challenges of poverty, housing, relationships, addictionshttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c7/HFHI_GVDC_Poverty_Housing.JPG
Challenges of poverty, housing, relationships, addictionshttp://michelleyeephotos.files.wordpress.com/2012/08/20120621-3098.jpg
Lone parentAboriginal lone parent households led by women are not an uncommon phenomenon. Prior research indicates that there has been a long history of Aboriginal women migrating to Toronto as the head of lone parent households, and who subsequently find themselves facing significant economic challengesCensus data reveals that over 50% of Aboriginal children are living in a single parent household, contrasted with 17% of non-Aboriginal children. Inevitably, the majority of these single parent households are led by mothers
Lone parentAboriginal lone parent households led by women are not an uncommon phenomenon. Prior research indicates that there has been a long history of Aboriginal women migrating to Toronto as the head of lone parent households, and who subsequently find themselves facing significant economic challengesCensus data reveals that over 50% of Aboriginal children are living in a single parent household, contrasted with 17% of non-Aboriginal children. Inevitably, the majority of these single parent households are led by mothers
Some Aboriginal women indicated that addictions and recovering are difficult in an urban setting. Closely related to addictions are mental health issues like depression as well as socio-economic issues like poverty. Survey respondents spoke of how in their experiences, seeking help for addictions begins to feel demoralizing and experiencing rejection heightens these feelings. Chart 6G shows how important Aboriginal women thought a successful healing journey was to their overall wellness. Eighty nine percent (89%) of Aboriginal women respondents identified it as being either important or very important, and only 2% indicated it as being of little or no importancehttp://www.restoreyoursoul.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/10/Healing-Journey-2.jpg
This notion of community building is not one that necessary coincides with mainstream notions of competition and advancement. The emerging Aboriginal middle class is an important area for Aboriginal women in Toronto. As the income data reveals, there is a large number of women working in positions that require post secondary education and training, working in full time permanent and contract positions and owning their own homes. This is consistent with other research which indicates that Aboriginal women are more likely than men to have completed some post-secondary education, which makes them better suited to finding a job in an urban area. We also see, particularly within the social service agencies, the prevalence of Aboriginal women occupying leadership positions within the community. It is often at these levels where we see stereotypes challenged and new revived perspectives on the role of Aboriginal women within Aboriginal communities.Beavon, D. & Cooke, M. (2003). An application of the United Nations Human Development Index to Registered Indians in Canada," In J.P. White, D. Beavon, & R. Maxim (Eds.) Aboriginal Conditions. Vancouver: UBC Press.http://pbs.merlin.cdn.prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Video%20Asset/KOZK/sense-community/21068/images/160940_ThumbnailCOVEDefault_SOC__745354.jpg
Acknowledgment awards program similar to the YWCA Women of Distinction Awardshttp://buildingopportunities.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/YWCA-WOD-Recipients.jpg
Create and ‘Aboriginal Professional Women’s Association’http://www.shesconnected.com/users/7134/photo/pn4womentemplogo.jpg
Let’s start with Aboriginal childrenAccording to Stats Canada, over 50% of Aboriginal people in Canada are under the age of 25 (Compared to ?? Of the general population)So children and youth health are extremely important, not just for Aboriginal people, but for all Canadians. http://www.flickr.com/photos/bcgovphotos/5390600853/sizes/o/in/photostream/
One of the key findings from the TARP report talks about how aboriginal children and youth are being engaged in cultural revitalization. They are more active in their culture, language and traditions.http://www.aboriginalbc.com/assets/media/si_cultural-revitalization_img_4.jpg
Aboriginal culture is essential to positive identity formation, educational success, and personal development for aboriginal children and youthhttp://farm1.staticflickr.com/18/70418247_ef9d976070.jpg
Aboriginal youth strongly value the First Nations school and the Native Learning Center in meeting their cultural and educational needshttp://i.thestar.com/images/6a/05/9aae06f0418b88510950d619d119.jpeg
Increase in gang involvement http://www.keepschoolssafe.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/kids-gangs-low-res.jpg
Though young people are becoming more active in their cultures and traditions, the TARP report does provide insight about some of the challenges and barriers.Formal education practices are deemed insufficient for aboriginal kids. It is recommended that an aborignal specific school be located in the GTA.http://www.flickr.com/photos/dolmansaxlil/4569110493/sizes/o/in/photostream/
Sense of community or sense of belonginghttp://pbs.merlin.cdn.prod.s3.amazonaws.com/Video%20Asset/KOZK/sense-community/21068/images/160940_ThumbnailCOVEDefault_SOC__745354.jpg
You can check out the TARP report for a full list of recommendations. For the sake of time, we’ll just highlight a couple here today.http://socialspark.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/recommend.png
First of all, there is a call for Aboriginal specific child services and spaces in the city of Toronto.http://www.flickr.com/photos/wonderlane/4915217413/sizes/o/in/photostream/
It’s also been recognized that transportation can be an issue for some youth who are trying to be active in their community so it is recommended that transportation costs be built into existing and new programs and services. http://www.flickr.com/photos/zolk/5304647170/sizes/l/in/photostream/
In order to achieve some of the programs and services to support Aboriginal Youth, it is necessary that the City of Toronto, the Province of Ontario, and the Federal Government work together http://cache.jezebel.com/assets/images/39/2010/11/1fish1.jpg
It’s been recommended that there be an aboriginal specific school in Torontohttp://www.learnalberta.ca/content/ssognc/inuitLifestyle/thumbnails/education.jpg
Skills link; education, training, and employmenthttp://www.safeinteesvalley.org/images/education-training-and-employment-side-graphic.jpg
Transitional housing program for youth who move to Toronto without parents of family to keep them from living on the street and assist them in adjusting to life in Toronto including referrals, help in finding permanent housing, employment counseling and cultural teaching. http://www.nehemiahgroup.org/images/transitional.jpg
Aboriginal athletic league be organized throughout the GTA in various sports to engage youth in positive recreational activities. http://adac.org.au/newsIMG/news87.jpg
That a permanent “Aboriginal Youth Council” be established to “give voice” to the concerns of Aboriginal youth in the city. It could be housed in an existing Aboriginal agency or in the Toronto Aboriginal Cultural Centre (see Recommendation # 42) and should receive sufficient funding to conduct their activities.http://www.cumbriacrack.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Youth-Council-Image.jpg
Further research needs to be done on the topic of Aboriginal youth and children to gain a more in-depth understanding of their situation and needs. http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O4Emib_9RNc/TwYiQ-BhYaI/AAAAAAAABas/3_KySuz9uy0/s1600/wtfrack.org+research%252C+investigation.jpg
In an address to a graduating university class, Steven Covey, author of “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” talked about the importance of living life by a compass, and not a clock. We get so caught up in the day to day business of things and are driven by time, looking for more time, and never having enough time. If we let go of those constructs of time and instead focus on the general direction in which we want to go, we will be much further aheadhttp://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pDBq5XBazIk/UIZfKrbG25I/AAAAAAAACh8/1Rxtm1lFHOk/s1600/tumblr_m9x7gom5fN1rxfknjo1_400.jpghttp://www.hwbaptist.org/clientimages/56339/compass.jpg
To begin, I’d like to introduce you to the concept of two – eyed seeing. This concept is from Mi’kmaq Elder, Albert Marshall and refers to a co-learning model where people come together to learn from each other, balancing western and indigenous worldviews.As we go through the presentation today, I encourage you all to consider looking at the information we give to you from multiple perspective or lenses, recognizing that by bringing the best of both worlds together, we can make really amazing things happen.
I’ll draw your attention back to where we started – and that is with the importance of building relationships with one another to address common goals.http://www.moppingupmillions.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Building-Relationships.png
