The Working Group

Throughout the year, interests, feedback, advice, and recommendations communicated on Indigenous Caucus Day are represented and actioned by CHRA's Indigenous Caucus Working Group. The Working Group meets regularly via monthly conference calls to advise and provide Indigenous perspectives on emerging national housing and homelessness issues to CHRA, as well as provide advocacy support and propose research projects exploring various facets of Indigenous housing and homelessness issues.

The Working Group is composed of CHRA members from across the country with an expertise and understanding of Indigenous housing including tenant support, building operations, cultural knowledge, and wrap-around services.

Working Group Members

• Justin Marchand, Chair of the Indigenous Caucus and Indigenous Communities Representative on the CHRA Board of Directors, and CEO of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services 
• Margaret Pfoh, CHRA Board President, and CEO of Aboriginal Housing Management Association 
• Tim Crooks, Executive Director, Phoenix Youth Services
• Robert Byers, Chief Executive Officer, Namerind Housing
• Patsy Kuksuk, Executive Director of Programs, Nunavut Housing Corporation
• Susan McGee, CHRA Regional Director for Alberta, and CEO of Homeward Trust Edmonton
• Christin Swim, General Manager, Skigin-Elnoog Housing Corporation
• Tanya Powell, Housing First Coordinator, Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre
• Shaun Simms, CHRA Board Member at-Large, Vice-President of People and Culture, Ottawa Community Housing
• Louise Atkins, former volunteer CHRA Indigenous Caucus Coordinator 

The Indigenous Caucus Working Group is supported by CHRA staff Vena Beckford, Director, Indigenous Caucus and Ray Sullivan, Executive Director.

Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference for the Indigenous Caucus were updated in September of 2019. They set out the responsibilities of the Caucus, when meetings occur, membership, as well as the roles and responsibilities of the Working Group which leads the operational affairs of the Caucus. Click to review the Terms of Reference. 

Terms of reference 

Statement of Cultural Principals

CHRA and the CHRA Indigenous Caucus share its Statement on Reconciliation and Cultural Principles to demonstrate that our commitment to reconciliation with Indigenous peoples across the country. This is a continued learning process and CHRA will continue to engage with members to ensure their needs are met. Click to review the Statement. 

Statement of Cultural Principles 

 

For Indigenous By Indigenous: The National Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Coalition Declaration

A landmark Indigenous housing alliance has been officially created, and we invite you to join us!
Indigenous housing providers and leaders attended the National Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Stakeholder Gathering on November 25, 2022, in Vancouver, BC and online to form a National Urban, Rural, Northern Indigenous Housing Coalition. This marks a significant advancement toward self-determination and the creation of a nation urban, rural, and northern Indigenous housing strategy, created by and delivered by Indigenous peoples.

Previously, Indigenous friendship societies, housing associations and corporations served their local and provincial communities but there hasn’t been a common Indigenous voice nationally and only BC and Ontario have provincial representation. Now, members will contribute collectively across all regions and territories. Together we have the experience and expertise to create and deliver an URN Indigenous housing strategy – now we also have the coalition in place to get it done.

The Indigenous Caucus at CHRA organized and supported the Gathering and will continue to support the coalition.

Read the declaration.