| For Immediate Release January 12, 2022 AHMA Creates British Columbia’s First Provincial Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy Unceded territory of the Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Nation, West Vancouver BC – AHMA will release British Columbia’s first Provincial Urban Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy on January 26th at a live recorded zoom event open to the public. The historic strategy is a powerful step forward in claiming and protecting the social, economic, and Indigenous housing rights of all urban, rural, and northern Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia. The strategy coincides with AHMA’s 25th anniversary as Canada’s first Indigenous Housing Authority representing over one third of all Indigenous Housing providers in Canada. AHMA’s strategy was created in response to the federal government’s failure to create a National Housing Strategy that included the urban Indigenous population. “First Nations, Metis, and Inuit Housing and Service providers must be at the table to address 3 distinction-based issues. In that same respect, the Urban Indigenous voices that represent nearly 80% of the Indigenous Peoples in Canada must also be at the table” said Margaret Pfoh, Chief Executive Officer at AHMA. The Provincial Urban Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy is part of AHMA’s long term vision to provide culturally safe, secure, and affordable housing to all Indigenous Peoples in British Columbia. The strategy was developed after a year of in-depth consultation with Indigenous organizations, community members, housing, and service providers. An Indigenous Advisory Council guided the entire process, providing expert advice and traditional Indigenous knowledge to ensure the strategy responds adequately to the unique needs of Indigenous Peoples. The virtual event will include a presentation from Indigenuity Consulting Group Inc. that will provide an overview of the strategy and define the vision, key principles, and goals. It will also include feedback received from Indigenous housing providers and partners on needs, challenges, barriers, and priorities related to the Strategy. Event Details
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