Photo: Namerind Conference 2026 / Photo by Lori Deets
BY Lori Deets
Namerind Housing Corporation hosts the 6th annual homelessness conference, balancing hope and prevention while tackling the harms of the residential school legacy.
Namerind Chief Operating Officer Judith Langen said the conference began six years ago with about 60 frontline workers.
“Initially, we started the conference just to highlight what was going on in the community and celebrate the people doing the work.”
This year, 350 participants came to listen to six leading and groundbreaking professionals share their experiences in Truth and Reconciliation, First Nation leadership, journalism, research and healing.
Dr. Marie Wilson, who was one of the three commissioners on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, says the work isn’t done; it’s ongoing. Knowing about the issues isn’t enough. Knowing the issues is not the same as knowing the person and understanding their lived experience.
Cadmus Delorme, Chancellor of the University of Regina and former Chief of Cowessess First Nation, opened his address with this fact”
“In Canada Indigenous people are 3 times more likely to face homelessness in our country.”
Delorme shared truth, and power and generational knowledge.
“In order for us to heal, we gotta start believing and understanding the process. Because you can give someone a couple dollars, you can give them keys, you can walk them to treat them. But inside. We have this strength in that process. Where on our lands today? Do we send someone to help strengthen their process to understand what it means to be indigenous?”
Dr. Brenda Reynolds, who started her social work career at the George Gordon Indian Residential School, worked with survivors for most of her career and was awarded the United Nations Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela Prize at UN headquarters in New York for her service to humanity.
Reynolds’ work and understanding of the policies surrounding the removal of Indigenous children to residential schools, the ’60s Scoop and foster care provided important context. Reynolds did not hold back. She shared horrific stories of violence and sexual assault.
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Connie Walker also shared her work in journalism and the effects of hearing and reporting on Indigenous stories and trauma in Canadian newsrooms throughout her career. Walker’s latest work has been deep in the archives and records of the residential schools, uncovering records and discovering coverups of sexual violence and assault by priests who worked at the residential schools.
Langen said that bringing this knowledge about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the residential school legacy was important.
“Because without the history without knowing the history you don’t understand why the challenges persist today. Imagine removing someone from their family, not having that connection, what would you expect?”
Namerind is set to do its annual PiT Count on October 15. Last year’s homeless count was over 800, an increase of 255%.
In 2024, Namerind released a five-year plan to end homelessness. This year’s number will be very revealing.