Toronto Aboriginal Research Project (TARP) TARP TORONTO ABORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT
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TARP RESEARCH PROJECT TORONTO ABORIGINAL TORONTO ABORIGINAL TARP RESEARCH PROJECT FINAL REPORT FINAL REPORT COMMISSIONED BY Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) TORONTO ABORIGINAL TARP RESEARCH PROJECT FINAL REPORT TORONTO ABORIGINAL SUPPORT SERVICES COUNCIL (TASSC) MEMBERS Sponsors of the Toronto Aboriginal Research Project (TARP) TARP TORONTO ABORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT Harvey Manning, Frances Sanderson, Nishnawbe Homes FINAL REPORT Kenn Richard, Na-Me-Res Native Child and Family Services Toronto Art Zoccole, 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations Andrea Chisjohn, Toronto Council Fire Native Cultural Centre Don McCaskill Christa Big Canoe, Kimberly Murray Kevin FitzMaurice and Jonathan Rudin, Aboriginal Legal Services Jaime Cidro Toronto Larry Frost, Native Canadian Centre of Toronto COMMISSIONED BY Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) CONTENTS The Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC) Executive Summary 17 would like to thank: 1 Introduction 41 The funders of the Toronto Aboriginal Research Project (TARP) 1.1 Background 41 Ontario Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs 1.2 The Toronto Aboriginal Research Project (TARP) 43 1.3 Research on Aboriginal People in Toronto 46 The Urban Aboriginal Strategy of the Office of the Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-status Indians 1.4 Users Guide to this Report 64 City of Toronto Homelessness Partnership Initiative 2 Tarp Methodology: Community-Based Research 66 2.1 Research Methodology: Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches 66 We would like to thank the members of TASSC and of the TARP Steering 2.2 TARP Research Design: A Community-Based Approach 68 Committee as well as the many members of the Toronto Aboriginal 2.2.1 Community Survey 69 Community who gave generously of their time and expertise to 2.2.2 Key Respondent Interviews 71 contribute to the TARP study. 2.2.3 Focus Groups 72 Meegwetch. 2.2.4 Life Histories 73 Don McCaskill, Kevin FitzMaurice and Jaime Cidro 2.2.5 Case Studies 74 Authors of this report 2.2.6 Photovoice 75 2.3 Total TARP Sample 76 Mukwa Associates 3 Demographics and Mobility Patterns 77 3.1 Population Growth and ‘Ethnic Mobility’ 78 3.2 Identity Profiles: Age, Gender, Status and Cultural Affiliation 79 3.3 Aboriginal Families 83 3.4 Residency and Mobility 85 3.5 Aboriginal Income 91 3.6 Aboriginal Employment 94 3.7 Aboriginal Education 96 v 4 Aboriginal Children and Youth 100 6.2.4 Aboriginal Women and Relationships 148 4.1 Aboriginal Families, Children and Youth 102 6.2.5 Aboriginal Women and Discrimination 149 4.1.1 Poverty, Poor Parenting and Addictions 103 6.2.6 Aboriginal Women and Leadership 151 4.1.2 The Challenges of Special Needs 106 6.2.7 Addictions and Recovery 154 4.1.3 Identity Challenges 107 6.3 Aboriginal Women’s Support Agencies 156 4.1.4 Aboriginal Gang Involvement 108 6.3.1 Anduhyuan Women’s Shelter 156 4.2 The Positive Contributions of Aboriginal Children and Youth 109 6.3.2 Native Women’s Resource Centre 156 4.3 Gaps in Children and Youth Services and the Paths to Success 111 7 Aboriginal Seniors and Elders 157 4.3.1 Educational Success 112 7.1 Aboriginal Elders and Seniors 158 4.3.2 Culture and Identity 114 7.2 Aboriginal Elders and Seniors: Key Demographic 4.3.3 Employment 116 Considerations 159 4.3.4 Aboriginal Agency Communication and Cooperation 117 7.3 Issues of Concern to Aboriginal Elders and Seniors 162 4.3.5 Aboriginal Housing Needs 118 7.4 Specific Gaps in Services to Aboriginal Elders and Seniors 166 4.3.6 Community and Governance 119 7.5 The Roles and Supports of Elders in Toronto 169 7.6 Aboriginal Elders/Seniors and Discrimination 171 5 Aboriginal Men 121 5.1 Aboriginal Men: Education and Income 122 8 Two-Spirited Aboriginal Community in Toronto 175 5.2 Aboriginal Men: Roles and Employment Status 124 8.1 The Two-Spirited Aboriginal Community in Toronto 177 5.3 Major Contributors of Success for Aboriginal Men in Toronto 127 8.2 Challenges Faced by Two-Spirited People in Toronto 182 5.4 Barriers to Success for Aboriginal Men in Toronto 133 8.2.1 Homophobia and Discrimination 183 5.5 Aboriginal Men and Discrimination 135 8.2.2 HIV/AIDS and Other Health Issues 185 6 Aboriginal Women 138 9 Aboriginal Poverty and the Social Services 188 6.1 Aboriginal Women’s Support Agencies in Toronto 139 9.1 Major Themes in Poverty and Social Services 189 6.2 Major Themes for Aboriginal Women 139 9.1.1 Household Income 190 6.2.1 Women and Income 140 9.1.2 Employment 193 6.2.2 Aboriginal Single Family Households 142 9.1.2.1 Women and Employment 193 6.2.3 Aboriginal Women and Housing 146 9.1.2.2 Non-Permanent Employment 195 vi TORONTO ABORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT Table of Contents vii 9.1.3 Transition Issues 196 11.2 Major Themes for Aboriginal Housing 239 9.1.4 Gaps in Poverty Social Services 198 11.2.1 Availability of Aboriginal Housing Units 240 9.1.4.1 Housing 199 11.2.2 Transition Issues 242 9.1.4.2 Transition and Life Skills 200 11.2.3 Issues with Rental Accommodation 245 9.1.4.3 Information Sharing 201 11.2.4 Safety and Affordability 247 9.1.4.4 Aboriginal Focused Services 202 11.2.5 Home Ownership 250 9.1.4.5 International Indigenous People 204 11.3 Housing as a Social Determinant of Health 253 9.2 Background: Aboriginal Social Service Agencies in Toronto 208 11.4 Aboriginal Housing Organizations 255 9.2.1 Anduhyuan Women’s Shelter 209 11.4.1 Nishnawbe Homes Inc. 256 9.2.2 Council Fire Native Cultural Centre 210 11.4.2 Gabriel Dumont 256 9.2.3 Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes 210 11.4.3 Anduhyuan Women’s Shelter 256 9.2.4 Native Canadian Centre of Toronto 210 11.4.4 Wigwamen Inc. 257 9.2.5 Native Child and Family Services of Toronto 211 11.4.5 Native Men’s Residence 257 9.2.6 Native Men’s Residence 211 12 Aboriginal Homelessness in Toronto 258 9.2.7 Native Women’s Resource Centre 212 12.1 Methodology 259 9.2.8 Nishnawbe Homes Inc. 212 12.2 Demographics 261 9.2.9 Miziwe Biik Employment and Training 213 12.2.1 Past and Present Living Situations 263 9.2.10 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations 213 12.3 Movement of Homeless Populations to Toronto 264 9.2.11 Wigwamen Inc. 213 12.4 Reasons for Being Homeless 267 10 The Aboriginal Middle Class in Toronto 214 12.5 Major Factors Preventing Change 270 10.1 Introduction 215 12.5.1 Transportation 270 10.2 The Aboriginal Middle Class in Toronto 216 12.5.2 Housing 272 10.3 Institutions, Community and the Aboriginal Middle Class 221 12.5.3 Employment 275 10.4 Culture, Identity, Lateral Violence and the Aboriginal 12.5.4 Education 278 Middle Class 230 12.5.5 Substance Abuse/Detoxification Facilities 279 12.5.6 Two-Spirited Services 282 11 Housing in the Toronto Aboriginal Community 237 12.5.7 Accessing Services 282 11.1 Aboriginal Housing in the City of Toronto 238 viii TORONTO ABORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT Table of Contents ix 12.5.8 Racism and Lateral Violence 286 16 The Aboriginal Arts Community In Toronto 345 12.6 Conclusion 286 16.1 Aboriginal Arts Organizations in the City of Toronto 346 12.6.1 Substance Abuse 288 16.2 Major Themes for the Aboriginal Arts Community 348 12.6.2 Transportation 289 16.2.1 Visibility of Aboriginal People through the Arts 348 12.6.3 Employment/Housing 289 16.2.2 Challenges of Marketing Aboriginal Arts to Various Segments of the Population 350 12.6.4 Access to Services 290 16.2.3 Aboriginal Arts as ‘Elite’ 352 13 Aboriginal Culture and Identity in Toronto 291 16.2.4 Working Collaboratively with the Aboriginal Social 13.1 Aboriginal Identity 293 Service Organizations 353 13.1.1 Aboriginal Diversity 293 16.2.5 Physical Spaces for the Aboriginal Arts 355 13.1.2 Authentic and Mixed Identity 297 16.3 Aboriginal Arts Organizations in Toronto 359 13.1.3 Urban/Reserve Connections 299 17 Conclusions and Recommendations 362 13.2 Language 302 17.1 Aboriginal Children and Youth 366 13.3 Adapting Traditional Culture to the City 304 17.2 Aboriginal Men 370 13.4 Cultural and Spiritual Services in Aboriginal Organizations 305 17.3 Aboriginal Women 371 14 Law and Justice and Aboriginal People 312 17.4 Aboriginal Elders and Seniors 372 14.1 Aboriginal Over-Representation in the Justice System: 17.5 The Aboriginal Two-Spirited Community in Toronto 374 Background Causes and Reforms 313 17.6 Aboriginal Poverty and Social Services 376 14.2 The Aboriginal Justice System in Toronto 317 17.7 The Aboriginal Middle Class in Toronto 379 14.3 The TARP Findings on Aboriginal People and the Justice 17.8 Housing in the Toronto Aboriginal Community 381 System in Toronto 319 17.9 Aboriginal Homelessness in Toronto 382 14.4 Profile of Aboriginal People Involved with the Justice 17.10 Aboriginal Culture and Identity in Toronto 383 System in Toronto 324 17.11 Law and Justice and Aboriginal People 386 14.5 Gaps in Law and Policing Services for Aboriginal People in Toronto 327 17.12 Aboriginal Urban Governance 388 17.13 Arts in the Toronto Aboriginal Community 390 15 Urban Aboriginal Governance 330 15.1 Urban Aboriginal Governance in Toronto: Contextual References 393 Background 331 15.2 Renewed Interest in Urban Aboriginal Self-Government Appendix A: TARP Research Team 398 in Toronto 334 15.3 Challenges to Urban Aboriginal Self-Government in Toronto 338 x TORONTO ABORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT Table of Contents xi Chart 5F Aboriginal Men Educational Attainment vs.