We work with all orders of government, leaders, Indigenous communities, frontline services, and sector partners to coordinate our efforts, course correct as needed, and align efforts with the goal of ending homelessness.
Our Approach
We Plan.
We Provide.
We contract services according to our plan, holding ourselves and our partners accountable and with transparency to the community to ensure the effective use of public dollars. We also provide access to emergency resources in emergencies, access to training for all Housing Supports partners, and a robust referral and HMIS system to support our efforts to end homelessness.
We Position.
We work with communications teams across our sector and leaders from the philanthropic and business communities to ensure our work is vetted through community perspectives and engagement. We conduct research and provide reports, collateral, and events to advocate for the resources and political will to end homelessness.
Indigenous Priorities
Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities have carried a burden of great pain and suffering for many decades. The toll of the intentional policies and programs to colonize First Peoples will never be fully comprehended. The discovery of the remains of 215 children on the grounds of Kamloops Indian Residential School in May of 2021 re-ignited experiences of trauma and grief in those survivors and the families of those who did not come home.
The discovery was not the first time unmarked graves have been reported at a residential school. However, the use of current technology to reveal the lives lost at the school with clarity and truth is undeniable evidence of what occurred there. In October of 2021, Cowessess First Nation in Saskatchewan reported the identification of 751 unmarked graves. For many years – and documented during the testimonies made to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission - Indigenous community members have shared their experiences and knowledge of graves, and too often, they were not believed. The Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc and Cowessess First Nations have confirmed without question that we must believe and we must listen.
With heavy hearts, we mourn and grieve with all Indigenous communities across Canada. We stand with those who continue to be impacted by the intergenerational trauma caused by the genocide facilitated through the residential school system. With more than 140 residential schools in operation from 1883 to 1996, there will undoubtedly be more horrific discoveries made. We understand that our support must be ongoing and our commitment to reconciliation efforts unwavering.
The TRC completed its mandate with 94 Calls to Action and, in doing so, stressed that reconciliation does not happen without intentional, committed action. Time does not heal the pain and suffering exposed in the Commission’s work.
Homelessness continues to disproportionately affect Indigenous people in Edmonton and across the country, and we know this is a direct outcome of colonial policies and decisions. We remain steadfast in our commitment to end homelessness; we will continue to support Indigenous-led work and actively engage Indigenous partners in informing and guiding our efforts. Through the upcoming months, there will be important conversations about what Indigenous people and organizations are identifying as the path forward. We are committed to listening to, believing, learning from, and reflecting on the lived realities of Indigenous communities. As an organization, Homeward Trust must maintain a focus on action and be accountable to the community in our efforts to support reconciliation.
We encourage all Canadians to deepen their understanding of our shared history and have compiled resources and links to Indigenous resources and organizations on our website. For those needing support, the National Indian Residential School Crisis Line offers 24/7 support for residential school Survivors at 1-866-925-4419.
In solidarity,
Homeward Trust Edmonton
As Edmonton, amiskwaciwâskahikan (Beaver Mountain House in Plains Cree) is on the cultural and traditional lands of Treaty Territory No. 6, it is vital we engage Indigenous people in our work.
It is important to recognize and address the many factors brought forth by the institution of colonialism. Displacement from traditional homelands, systemic racism, residential schools, the Sixties Scoop, and the ongoing overrepresentation in child welfare and correctional systems are responsibilities we all share.
The negative impact and intergenerational trauma this has had on the Indigenous community is undeniable. To effect real and lasting change, the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of individuals and communities must always be at the core of what we do and how we do it.
This means aligning our approach to reflect the valued work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. It is critical to not only meet these calls to action but also ensure that the path we walk in supporting and building capacity within the Indigenous community is done in a culturally respectful and sensitive manner.
