A new Amnesty International report warns that overcrowded and unsafe housing in the Atikamekw community of Manawan, Quebec, reflects a broader crisis endangering Indigenous health, safety, and rights across Canada.
Community leaders say families regularly seek emergency housing as conditions deteriorate. Chief Sipi Flamand of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan said urgent requests involve critical situations where the safety of women and children is at stake.
The two-year investigation found severe overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and long construction delays. France-Isabelle Langlois, director general of Amnesty International's francophone section in Canada, said the shortage violates rights to housing, education, health, privacy, and safety. Many families live in mould-infested homes, contributing to illness and stress.
Assembly of First Nations Quebec-Labrador data indicates $139 billion is needed nationally for Indigenous housing, with $8 billion required in Quebec alone. Chief Francis Verreault-Paul called for over 10,000 new housing units in the province, criticizing federal and provincial governments for lacking concrete commitments.
Chief Vivianne Chilton of Wemotaci described three or four families sharing one home. Housing pressures force residents to urban centers, while shortages prevent others from returning after education or careers. Verreault-Paul noted the link between housing shortages and Indigenous homelessness in cities.
Flamand called the crisis a structural injustice that requires rebuilding community foundations and supporting self-determination.