This text is part of the special section Indigenous Development
Two unique student residences opened their doors this year in Sept-Îles and Trois-Rivières respectively, paving the way for similar projects elsewhere in Quebec. The formula aims to facilitate access to housing as well as academic perseverance for Indigenous people.
A few dozen students have already moved in. Some are alone, others are accompanied by their children, their partner or even, sometimes, their grandmother. “We are in the phase of providing a living environment so that people can take ownership, occupy community spaces, collective kitchens, study areas,” testifies Tanya Sirois, general director of the Regroupement des centers d’friendship nationaux. of Quebec (RCAAQ).
The Nutshimit living environment, located on the Sept-Îles CEGEP campus, has 32 housing units of different sizes. In Trois-Rivières, the Waska Witcihitowin living environment contains 42 housing units. The two environments, designed after consultation with the communities, offer access to an Early Childhood Center. They also have common spaces such as collective kitchens, study areas, physical activity rooms, facilities dedicated to cultural activities or outdoor areas. They were built by the RCAAQ Real Estate Company, with the support of various financial partners such as the governments of Quebec and Canada and the collaboration of several educational institutions.
In 2019, the Quebec government entrusted friendship centers with the mission of carrying out pilot projects for student accommodation, explains Tanya Sirois. “ [On s’est demandé] what were the obstacles that meant that there were few students [autochtones] pursuing post-secondary studies in the province. Housing was already a major obstacle. »
“The whole issue of racism and discrimination comes into play if you have an indigenous accent or last name,” sighs the leader of Innu origin regarding the increased challenges for indigenous students of finding a home in an context of housing crisis. The project in Sept-Îles also raised tensions among citizens who were opposed to the establishment of the place in their neighborhood, illustrates Mme Sirois. Finally, the project benefited from land provided by the Cégep de Sept-Îles.
But housing is far from the only obstacle to obtaining postsecondary degrees. “Imagine a mother who lives in a community; she arrives in town and she has no child care, give M as an exampleme Sirois, who explains that most Indigenous students who wish to continue their studies are single or single mothers with two or three children.
“We put in a social safety net to ensure that we arrive before dropping out of school,” summarizes the Innu leader on the formula that adapts to the needs of each community.
Crying needs
In Sept-Îles, 26 out of 32 housing units are already occupied, calculates Laurent Odjick, general director of the Real Estate Company of the Regroupement des centers d’ endamientis of Quebec (SIRCAAQ). According to the latter, the two living environments should be at maximum capacity from the start of summer, following a selection process.
“We have around a hundred people waiting in Sept-Îles, and another hundred in Trois-Rivières,” he estimates. The waiting lists confirm that there was a real need in urban areas. »
In fact, two other environments of the same type are about to emerge on the campus of Laval University in Quebec, as well as in Chibougamau. The first shovelfuls of earth are also planned for this fall, reveals Laurent Odjick. He adds that SIRCAAQ is in discussions with other cities that would like to have their own living environment, such as Montreal, Gatineau and Chicoutimi. With the labor shortage and the explosion in construction costs, the Real Estate Company is trying to raise funds to carry out its mission, explains Mr. Odjick.
“If we can pave the way for other projects, for affordable accommodation for families,” adds Tanya Sirois, “I find that these projects are ambassadors of the fight against racism and discrimination. This has a knock-on effect, people who go to school! When you become a nurse or engineer, you contribute to the development of the city, but also of Quebec. »
“ [L’idée] it is to have systemic responses and a spectrum of actions that will touch several facets of the issues that Aboriginal people will encounter, adds Tanya Sirois with conviction. This is how we will be able to break cycles of vulnerabilities that persist. »
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