Earth Week offers an important moment to reflect on our shared responsibility to honour and protect Mother Earth, our home. It felt especially meaningful that this week, members of our team and I had the opportunity to attend the 58th National Congress on Housing and Homelessness in St. John’s.
I was invited to participate by Regional Chief Mitchell as he is the Assembly of First Nations portfolio holder for Housing, Homelessness, and Infrastructure. Chief Mitchell continues to be deeply engaged in addressing housing challenges facing First Nations communities across the country.
These national conversations give us the space to share the realities and priorities of our communities while learning from innovative approaches emerging in other regions. We also connected with our provincial partners to reaffirm our shared commitment to increasing housing across the island. We are stronger when we build together.
Housing is connected to everything, health, language, ceremony, family, and community identity. This gathering brought together housing leaders and community partners from across Canada, all united in ensuring safe, affordable, and sustainable housing for the people we serve.
The focus on sustainability felt especially significant during Earth Week, reminding us that housing solutions must not only meet the needs of our people but also respect and protect the lands and waters that sustain us.
Our team is committed to advocating for affordable, accessible housing solutions that reflect the needs of our people, and to advancing approaches that honour our responsibility to care for Mother Earth for generations to come.