June is National Indigenous History Month; a time to celebrate the brilliance and resilience of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples across Canada. From vibrant cultures and diverse languages to powerful movements for justice and self-determination, Indigenous histories are rich, complex, and alive.

At CHRA's Indigenous Caucus, we’re proud to be part of this living history as we work to advance Indigenous-led housing solutions grounded in culture, care, and connection.

 

Indigenous Housing Is a Story of Strength

Too often, the narrative around Indigenous housing focuses on deficits. But Indigenous housing stories are stories of innovation, healing, and leadership.

Across the country, Indigenous housing providers are creating:

• supportive housing rooted in ceremony and kinship,
• community hubs for youth, Elders, and families,
• affordable homes built with local knowledge and materials, and
• programs that wrap housing in culture, health, and belonging.

These are more than buildings: they are spaces of resurgence and pride.

For many, the concept of home isn’t just a physical place, home lives in the heart. It’s where connection, spirit, and identity reside. Spiritual displacement—the feeling of being disconnected from land, language, or belonging—is one of the gravest impacts of colonization. When we talk about Indigenous housing, we are also talking about restoring that deep, rooted sense of home.

At the same time, we acknowledge the systemic barriers that persist: underfunding, jurisdictional gaps, and the ongoing absence of a fully funded urban, rural, and northern Indigenous Housing Strategy. These challenges are real and urgent. The Indigenous Caucus has long played a role in advocating for action at the federal level, and we remain committed to pushing for meaningful change.

 

Our Story: From NAHA to NICHI

The Indigenous Caucus stands on the shoulders of leaders who have long been fighting for housing justice. What began as the National Aboriginal Housing Association (NAHA) became a network of voices within the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association, eventually formalized as the Indigenous Caucus at CHRA.

Through years of advocacy, gatherings, and engagement with communities across the country, the Caucus built momentum around the need for a dedicated national Indigenous housing strategy. That persistent advocacy helped lay the groundwork for the federal government’s recognition of the importance of Indigenous leadership in housing policy and directly informed the creation of NICHI (the National Indigenous Collaborative Housing Inc.), now serving as a key fund administrator for urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing.

While NICHI now leads on funding delivery, the Indigenous Caucus remains focused on advocacy, policy change, and amplifying the voices of those still too often excluded from decision-making tables. Together, they represent different parts of the same vision: Indigenous self-determination in housing.

 

This Month, We Celebrate…

• The urban Indigenous organizations turning housing into community.
• The rural and northern builders reimagining what’s possible.
• The youth leaders and Elders who guide our visions with wisdom and courage.
• The advocates, funders, and partners who uplift Indigenous voices and leadership.

 

Looking Ahead with Pride and Purpose

Housing is more than a policy issue; it’s a path to self-determination. Indigenous communities are reclaiming and revitalizing housing design traditions that honour their people, culture, and land.

As we move forward, the Indigenous Caucus remains committed to:

• building partnerships that reflect our values,
• sharing stories of success and strength, and
• amplifying Indigenous-led solutions that are transforming the housing landscape.

This transformation requires continued political will, accountability, and long-term investment. We will keep advocating for policies and programs that reflect the lived realities of Indigenous housing providers and the communities they serve.

We invite you to walk with us, support our work, and celebrate the trailblazers who are changing lives one home, one community, one generation at a time.

Happy Indigenous History Month!