Society and culture

The Conversation: How to ensure affordable, safe and culturally grounded housing for Indigenous older adults

Woman holding a key
Estimated Read Time:
1 minute
‘Minosin Kikiwa’, or a good home, for Indigenous older adults is defined as a safe, affordable and accessible space that fosters a holistic balance of physical, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being through deep connections to family, kin, community and culture. (Unsplash)
‘Minosin Kikiwa’, or a good home, for Indigenous older adults is defined as a safe, affordable and accessible space that fosters a holistic balance of physical, spiritual, mental and emotional well-being through deep connections to family, kin, community and culture. (Unsplash)
Estimated Read Time:
1 minute

As written in The Conversation by Hai Luo, associate professor, Faculty of Social Work, Laura Funk, professor, Faculty of Arts, Malcolm Disbrowe, graduate student.

A good home, or Minosin Kikiwa in Cree, is the foundation of dignity in later life, according to the Indigenous seniors who spoke to us. Yet “every year the rent goes sky-high and it’s tough to be homeless,” an anonymous participant said.

As members of the Indigenous Seniors Research Committee, we came together in the fall of 2022 with the goal of examining the housing and care needs of older Indigenous adults in Winnipeg. In 2023-24, we spoke with 48 Indigenous older adults between the ages of 55 and 83 and nine knowledge keepers. What we found out, and compiled in our report Minosin Kikiwa – “A Good Home”: Indigenous Older Adults in Winnipeg, is critical to share.

It turns out that many Indigenous Elders are struggling to find affordable and safe homes to age with dignity after decades of contributing to their families and communities. The evidence we’ve collected suggests a housing crisis that is not only economic but also cultural.

Read the full story at The Conversation.