Enhanced Enumeration Tools for Indigenous Communities: Brantford PiT Count Experience

1. Enhanced Enumeration Tools for Indigenous Communities: Brantford PiT Count Experience Pete Doolittle, Community Relations Administrator Brantford Native Housing 2018 PiT Count Coordinator Training

2. Today’s Agenda Brant/Brantford and Six Nations, in a nutshell 7 Grandfather Teachings The Volunteer Training The Indigenous Experience of Homelessness Magnet Event Best Practices

3. Brantford and Brant County Our Catchment Area

6. Six Nations of the Grand River Territory and the City of Brantford/County of Brant are geographically, historically, and socially tied.

8. THANK YOU! PARTNERS Brantford Native Housing County of Brant City of Brantford Service Canada Brantford Aboriginal Homelessness Alliance Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres SUPPORTERS Ivision Laurier Brantford Old Mush Singers John Henhawk KML Studios AND TO OUR WONDERFUL VOLUNTEERS!

9. Seven Grandfather Teachings Image from Georgian College Aboriginal Resource Centres; http://ojibweresources.weebly.com/ojibwe-teachings--the-7-grandfathers.html

10. The Volunteer Experience

11. Volunteer Training • Held six training sessions, 2-2.5 hrs long • General information about PiT Counts • General information about homelessness • Trauma-Informed understanding of homelessness • Indigenous Cultural Component • Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities • Day of the Count Logistics

15. Attention and mindfulness of cultural safety and trauma Attention to Trauma • Trauma is both a cause and result of homelessness Types of Trauma The Effects of Trauma • Impairs memory, concentration, new learning, and focus • Correlated with heart disease, obesity, addiction, cancer, and diabetes • Impacts individuals’ ability to: trust, cope, and form healthy relationships • Disrupts: ability to self-soothe, ability to control expression of emotions, one’s ability to distinguish between what’s safe and unsafe. • Shapes a person’s belief about self and others, one’s ability to hope, and one’s outlook on life.

16. The Indigenous Experience of Homelessness

18. The Indian Act Jurisdictional and Coordination Issues Aboriginal Homelessness Individual “Ruptures” or impacts of trauma Residential Schools Marginalization, systemic racism, discrimination, and isolation Child Welfare

19. Volunteer Training – Engaging Indigenous Community • Attention to Trauma • Attention to the Past: Colonization and Residential Schooling • Historical and Contemporary Causes of Indigenous Homelessness • Cultural Safety • Empathy, Respect, and Understanding

20. A Welcoming and Accessible Magnet Event • Locally known venue • Homemade traditional Haudenosaunee foods • Traditional Ceremonial Opening and Closing • Smudging Station • Free Services: vision test, haircuts

21. Best Practices: What We've Learned • Prepare early • Collaborate! • Research and understand the homeless population in your community • Engage community through multiple avenues • Gratitude to participants, volunteers, and contributors

22. Thank You for Your Time