Aboriginal Community of Toronto

Aboriginal Community of Toronto

Wigwam Housing Inc. 

As many people know, Toronto is an expensive city to live in. All living necessities like food are greatly expensive, rent is another expensive matter. To help people adjust to the city there are places that give people shelter and resources to attaining a job and housing. For many Aboriginal people who come to the city from a reservation, it is very difficult adjusting. These people face many challenges such as jobs and housing.

"In 2006, the unemployment rate for the Aboriginal core working age population (aged 25 to 54) in Toronto was higher than that of the non-Aboriginal population (8.0% compared to 5.4%).") Aboriginal people have a more difficult time getting a job than non-Aboriginal people. Without a job it is difficult to then attain housing and other necessities. One of the housing programs is Wigwam Incorporated.

Wigwam is a non-profit residential corporation that helps Aboriginal people attain housing. Wigwam first started in 1970 as members of the Toronto Aboriginal community coming together to express their frustrations of expenses and support one another to become familiar with the different culture. Wigwam works with its' clients for affording the housing and the accommodations necessary. Some of those accommodations include the client having a family or other dependents  Wigwam adjusts their rent cost to meet what the client can afford to pay, taking other living costs into consideration. Wigwam works with both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people to attain a sustainable living environment.

Tea-n-Bannock

Owner: Enos Miller

Enos Miller is from the state of Ohio, and came to Canada in 1985. Having been interested in Aboriginal culture and been invited to a reserve north of Sioux Lookout he came to Canada to indulge in the culture first hand. He has been here ever since. Enos wanted to do something that the Aboriginal community would appreciate and needed in the city life. Both Enos and his wife had the same thought on the same day about opening Tea-n-Bannock, Enos described it as “a spiritual pull.” Tea-n-Bannock has been open since April 17, 2012. They found the space in June but didn’t do any work on it later. Tea-n-Bannock is both an establishment and place for a christian group that Enos and his wife are apart of. About 60% of the customers are Aboriginal. There are repeat customers that come in every few weeks that are non-Aboriginal, most come in for a taste and curious. Most really enjoy so they come back and bring their friends along. Enos hopes for Tea-n-Bannock to become more known by the community members. Without sponsorship and credit, Tea-n-Bannock can't grow. Enos and his staff are still very happy with Tea-n-Bannock's progress.

First Nations School

Last, but not least, another important part of the Aboriginal community in Toronto is the First Nations School. In 1977 First Nations School was called Spirit Survival School. It was later renamed First Nations School several years after the Toronto District School Board recognized it was not an alternative school. The First Nations School gives urban Aboriginal children a chance to learn about their culture, heritage and language as a first. In a normal public school, the children would learn about their heritage as a chapter in their studies. With First Nations, they have the opportunity to learn the history as the main focus.

In every culture, it is important that the coming generations are educated on both their heritage and outside their heritage. First Nations is not only feathered toward Aboriginal students, it is open to non-Aboriginal children as well. The school is geared toward making education possible in any way for any student. First Nations have many creative learning programs which include arts and teachings adhered to Aboriginal culture. Instead of french, the children have to opportunity to learn Ojibway.

The school still follows all the necessary academics that other schools follow but is focused on Aboriginals. The school is a full elementary system, offering Junior Kindergarten to grade eight. First Nations also offers a daycare program that is called Aboriginal Head Start Program. It too helps young children begin the process of learning both in and outside Aboriginal culture.

In a society that is trying to forget the Aboriginal culture, it is key to have resources available to help our youth fight being forgotten. First Nations School give Aboriginal children the knowledge and resources to keep the culture alive so that they can pass it on to the coming generations.  

Tea-n-Bannock is located where the black dot is on the map.

First Nations School is located where the orange dot is on the map. 

Wigwam housing is spread out over the entire area. 

Missing or Murdered Aboriginal Women in Canada

For centuries Aboriginal people have been considered less than lower class citizens. Many Aboriginal people live well below the poverty line. Reserves are poorly built and have issues that begin from the root and affect the plant as well as the whole crop field.

Since first contact, there have been issues between Aboriginal people and non-Aboriginal people. Some of the people to suffer these disputes were Aboriginal women.

There are more Aboriginal women that go missing than any other cases in Canada. Aboriginal women are a majority of those numbers. These women are taken from their homes, their lives and families. These women almost always never return. It is a heartache that isn’t heard throughout the country either.

Many people do not know the alarming number of which Aboriginal women contribute to the missing women’s list.  Some people just simply don’t care. Others just don’t know because there is minimum to no coverage of these missing women; sometimes when the women do turn up, it is far too late to save them.

This article talks about a woman who participated in the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit. She speaks of how she was disappointed with how the summit went. The premiers and other government officials that attended couldn’t do anything for these women and organizations that also attended. She speaks of how these government officials seem like they merely attend because it looks good on paper to others. These government officials don’t help in any way to help these women find justice.

http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/national-aboriginal-women’s-summit-disappoints-ind/14093

This is another article regarding the National Aboriginal Women’s Summit. This article focuses more on the lack of co-operation from the federal and provincial governments. The federal government didn’t attend the summit at all. It is also the Crown’s responsibility to defend Aboriginal people throughout Canada. The one thing that would truly help these organizations attain the support needed to make a difference would be a public inquiry. Although some provinces receive minimum support from the officials of those provinces, there are few that are moving forward. One of these progressing provinces is Manitoba. Manitoba now has a police task force dedicated to investigating both missing and homicide Aboriginal cases.

“Aboriginal groups have said they want the inquiry to examine two specific areas: 1) how police investigate missing persons and homicide cases and; 2) the effect poverty and socio-economic factors have on aboriginal women.” (Picard, 2012)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/too-many-aboriginal-women-have-died-its-time-for-action/article4961973/

This last article is from the first day of the two-day event. The woman being interviewed is a victim of having a missing loved one. The woman speaks of how it is upsetting to not know what happened to her loved one and how officials aren’t doing anything about it. She along with others speaks of hopefulness for the rest of the event. One of those hopeful wishes was that the families of victims could speak freely at the event; sadly this wish was not met.

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/missing-aboriginal-women-a-tragedy-176914611.html

These families put themselves out there seeking help and support from provincial and federal officials. Seeking help from police and other officials that are meant to protect and defend the people of this country. When these families’ cries are met with nothing but silence or excuses it makes this battle harder. Fortunately for the families, it also builds their determination and fuels their passion for justice. 

Natascia, L. (2012). National aboriginal women’s summit disappoints indigenous groups. Halifax media co-op, Retrieved from http://halifax.mediacoop.ca/story/national-aboriginal-women’s-summit-disappoints-ind/14093

Picard, A. (2012). Too many aboriginal women have died. it’s time for action. The globe and mail, Retrieved from http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/too-many-aboriginal-women-have-died-its-time-for-action/article4961973/

Rollason, K. (2012). Missing aboriginal women a tragedy. Winnipeg free press, Retrieved from http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/missing-aboriginal-women-a-tragedy-176914611.html