Colonialism Has Created Greater Rates of Homelessness among Montreal Inuit

Before the Pandemic, there were 2,000 homeless people in Montreal on any given night. This number has since doubled. But some populations may be at risk of homelessness – 10% of Montreal’s homeless population is Indigenous, despite making up only 0.6% of the city’s population.

These statistics are even higher among Inuit, a population which represents 10% of Indigenous people in Montreal, but accounts for 43% of homeless Montrealers who are Indigenous.

So how exactly does colonialism lead to homelessness among some Indigenous populations?

David Chapman, executive director of Shelter Resilience Montreal recognizes the effects of colonialism within Resilience’s clientele.  

Chapman said there are lots of homeless people from lots of different cultures – but we should consider how 100 years of cultural genocide, and finding graves of children across the country, can lead to ramifications that can generate trauma. And as a result – homelessness.

The 60’s scoop was during the 1950’s to 1980’s, when the Canadian government removed Indigenous children from their families and placed them in catalogs to be adopted by white families during the 1960’s to continue forced assimilation, generated great trauma, as did residential schools. Trauma not only endured by those who experienced it, but passed down generations.

Chapman said many Inuit in Montreal had parents in Residential Schools or who were in the 60's scoop.

Not all Inuit are from Montreal, some migrate here – but why?

Chapman says there are a few main reasons Inuit come to Montreal. He said they come for medical treatment, sometimes seeking a specialist. He said Montreal is also cheaper than the North so they stay. Chapman said there’s a housing shortage in the North, as there are more families than there is housing, they come South to get away from crowding.