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Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the world: A new report in New Zealand reveals that four out of five homeless women are Māori; activists sound alarm on China’s global cultural suppression; First Nations chiefs call for national inquiry into systemic racism in policing in Canada; and a panel highlights Indigenous leadership as a key to global change.
NEW ZEALAND: Homeless Māori women
Four out of five homeless women in New Zealand are Indigenous Māori, highlighting a disparity that demands urgent, culturally responsive solutions, Te Ao Maori News reported on Dec. 5.
A recent report, *Ngā Ara ki te Kāinga*, by the Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness sheds light on the gendered realities of homelessness in New Zealand, with Indigenous women disproportionately affected. Tanita Bidois of Ihi Research notes that this is the first study to specifically explore the experiences of women facing homelessness in the country.
“Government policies and strategies often only consider the needs of homeless men,” Bidois said. “So women in homelessness, their specific gender needs and risks aren’t taken into consideration.”
The research involved interviews with 27 women who were 15 to 29 years old who had experienced homelessness, as well as discussions with frontline workers. The study found that single mothers, most of who were Indigenous, were particularly impacted.
“We see a lot of these mums living in cars with their children, or in uninhabitable homes,” Bidois said, according to Tea o Maori News. She highlights the interconnected nature of homelessness with domestic violence, mental illness, addiction, trauma and other issues. Key drivers include physical, sexual and financial violence, intimate partner violence, state care experiences, sexual abuse and the loss of children.
The report also underscores gender-specific challenges, such as managing pregnancy and menstruation while homeless. It notes a concerning rise in homelessness among women 55 years and older, often triggered by divorce, elder abuse and widowhood.
“The drivers [of homelessness] look really different, so the solutions also need to look really different – they need to meet the needs of the family,” Bidois said.
The report further highlights the severe housing deprivation faced by Indigenous women, who encounter distrust in government agencies and discrimination from some social service providers. This acts as a barrier to accessing housing and support.
Whānau Ora Minister Tama Potaka said the report was an important step in addressing homelessness among women.
“The Coalition to End Women’s Homelessness has made a considerable contribution to supporting women experiencing homelessness,” he said. “I welcome this report as another input into our understanding of the factors that can drive homelessness or cause additional challenges for women.”
A culturally tailored approach, designed by and for Indigenous communities, is recommended. “Data shows that a third of severely housing-deprived women are Indigenous,” Bidois said. “They need services that recognize both the gendered and racial challenges they face in accessing equitable housing.”
The researchers urge the government to create policies addressing women’s specific housing needs, with targeted support for Indigenous women and other marginalized groups.
CHINA: Global Chinese cultural suppression
China’s government is intensifying efforts to reshape the cultural identity and history of minority ethnic groups and political dissidents, a campaign that is now extending to American soil, activists testified during a U.S. congressional hearing on Thursday, according to a Dec. 5 report from Radio Free Asia.
Tibetan, Uyghur, Mongolian and Chinese activists addressed a U.S. congressional hearing, raising alarms about China’s expanding efforts to erase cultural identities. While the United States has traditionally been a refuge for free speech and cultural preservation, many now fear Beijing’s influence extends far beyond its borders.
Rishat Abbas, president of the U.S.-based Uyghur Academy, shared the story of his sister Gulshan, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence in China. He believes her imprisonment is retaliation for his activism abroad. “My sister’s detention is a direct act of revenge,” Abbas testified to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, according to Radio Free Asia. “Her case highlights the CCP’s relentless targeting of Uyghurs simply for their identity and their relatives’ activism overseas.”
The U.S. government has labeled China’s actions against Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide. Many Uyghurs in exile work to preserve their culture and fight these policies but fear the consequences for family members left behind. Abbas remains undeterred, expressing hope that one day a Uyghur-language textbook developed in the U.S. could be brought to Xinjiang. “She has never engaged in any form of advocacy in her life,” Abbas said of his sister.
Pressure from Beijing isn’t limited to individuals. Julian Ku, a constitutional law professor at Hofstra University, described how American institutions have been targeted. He cited a legal battle over the diaries of Li Rui, a former secretary to Mao Zedong who became a dissident, housed at Stanford University. Li’s widow, represented by high-profile law firms, is suing to reclaim the documents.
Stanford maintains the diaries were donated by Li’s daughter to protect them from being destroyed in China. Ku referred to the lawsuit as an example of “lawfare,” speculating that powerful backers are funding the effort. “The aim may not even be to win but to send a chilling message to institutions,” Ku said. “It deters universities and museums from acquiring sensitive materials.”
Ethnic Han Chinese activists also voiced their concerns. Rowena He, a historian specializing in the Tiananmen Square massacre, recounted her fear of retaliation. Banned from entering Hong Kong last year, He described years of anxiety stemming from her research. “I remember hesitating to testify before Congress years ago because I feared for my family,” she said. He stressed the need for alternative educational materials to counter Beijing’s historical narrative. “We are not ‘underground historians.’ We are historians,” she declared.
Tibetan monk Geshe Lobsang Monlam, who compiled a 223-volume Tibetan dictionary, urged U.S. support to safeguard Tibetan language and culture. “Young Tibetans in Tibet are losing their ability to use their native tongue as they become fluent in Mandarin,” Monlam said. He called for technological tools to aid in preserving Tibetan traditions in exile.
Seventeen-year-old Southern Mongolian activist Temulun Togochog highlighted similar struggles. She described systematic efforts to erase the Mongolian language and culture in China’s Inner Mongolia region. Togochog appealed for funding to support cultural preservation initiatives, including Mongolian-language programming through Voice of America. “This would help our minority preserve their language, culture, and identity,” she said, according to Radio Free Asia.
The activists collectively urged the U.S. to counter Beijing’s growing influence and assist in protecting the cultural heritage of those targeted by China’s policies.
CANADA: A call to address racism in policing
The National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations is urging politicians across the spectrum to back a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing and the police-related deaths of First Nations people, emphasizing it is a pressing human rights issue requiring leadership and dedication from all sides, APTN News reported on Dec. 4.
“For too long, First Nations people have been subjected to colonial police violence in Canada. It’s not acceptable for First Nations people, and I don’t believe this is acceptable to other Canadians either,” Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak said with two mothers directly touched by the issue standing behind her.
A resolution passed unanimously at a special chiefs assembly in Ottawa on Dec. 3 highlights the federal government’s failure to address systemic racism in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other policing agencies, despite 20 separate inquiries and commissions into the justice system since 1989.
The resolution was driven by a series of tragic incidents between Aug. 29 and Sept. 24, during which nine First Nations individuals lost their lives during or after interactions with police. As of the publication of this article, the total number of First Nations, Inuit or Métis people who have died in police-related incidents has risen to 13.
“The investigations into the recent deaths of First Nations people after interacting with police are being conducted in isolation of each other, which is not drawing conclusions as one interrelated epidemic,” the resolution states.
The assembly called for a national inquiry into systemic racism in policing, along with the creation of a national crisis intervention framework. Chiefs also pushed for the demilitarization of police forces, urging an end to the use of military-style tactics and equipment by officers.
Edith Wells, the mother of Jon Wells, who died in September after an interaction with police in Calgary, described the emotional toll of speaking out. “We need to speak up as mothers for justice for our children that have been very brutally murdered by the police,” she said. “Justice needs to be done.”
For Wells and others, a national inquiry represents a step toward accountability.
“We stand here to say we’ve had enough of this,” said Martha Martin, whose son and daughter both died after encounters with police in 2020. “No more recommendations. It’s time for action.”
AUSTRALIA: Indigenous leadership key to global change
Indigenous leaders from the U.S., Canada and Australia convened in Perth to address global challenges, including cultural heritage protection, sovereignty and economic development, the National Indigenous Times reported on Dec. 5.
Moderated by U.S. Consul General in Western Australia Siriana Nair, a panel of Indigenous leaders shared practical insights and success stories, emphasizing the transformative power of Indigenous leadership.
The discussion explored topics ranging from safeguarding intellectual property to fostering international trade opportunities, revealing common challenges and innovative strategies to support Indigenous communities.
A unifying theme emerged: Indigenous leadership is not only vital for their communities but also for fostering a more equitable and culturally rich world.
Dawn Houle, owner of Sunsinger Consulting and a Chippewa Cree woman, stressed the importance of protecting creative knowledge and cultural heritage.
“Once Indigenous artists put their designs on platforms like Facebook or Instagram, they’re often stolen by foreign companies, mass-produced and sold without permission. It’s heartbreaking,” Houle said.
To combat this, she has helped establish cultural-monitoring companies that empower tribal knowledge keepers to protect sacred traditions while generating income for their communities.
“Our environment, our stories, our designs – they are more than assets. They are our identity,” Houle said. “Preserving them is critical not just for our survival but for the world’s cultural richness.”
This sentiment resonated with Eric Henson, a Chickasaw Nation member and lecturer at Harvard University, who emphasized that economic success must be rooted in governance systems reflecting Indigenous values – a concept he calls “cultural match.”
“Good governance is about creating structures that align with the cultural norms of the community,” Henson said.
He highlighted the Ute tribe in Colorado as a successful example, noting how it took control of its energy resources, revitalized its economy, and generated billions in revenue.
“It’s about taking risks, making decisions, and learning from the outcomes – whether they succeed or fail,” he said.
Henson also underscored the importance of empowering Indigenous communities with decision-making authority.
“You can’t build sustainable economies if Indigenous communities don’t control their own resources and decisions,” he said, according to National Indigenous Times.
The panel’s insights reinforced the critical role of Indigenous leadership in addressing global challenges, ensuring cultural preservation, and driving sustainable economic growth.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in New Zealand where the disproportionate impact of homelessness on particularly Indigenous Māori women is a stark reflection of systemic inequalities that cannot be ignored.
This crisis reveals the failures of housing policies and broader social systems that perpetuate cycles of poverty, discrimination and violence. It is unacceptable that, in a developed nation, mothers are raising their children in cars, enduring unsafe living conditions, and navigating systems that fail to recognize their unique needs. The situation demands immediate and comprehensive action.
One critical step is the implementation of culturally responsive housing programs. Solutions designed and led by Indigenous communities are essential to address the specific needs of Indigenous women. A “by Māori, for Māori” approach would ensure housing initiatives align with cultural values and offer dignity and stability to families. At the same time, support services must address the interconnected challenges of homelessness, such as domestic violence, mental health struggles, addiction and trauma.
By integrating housing assistance with mental health care, child welfare support, and employment services, these programs can create pathways out of homelessness.
The gendered nature of homelessness also calls for policies that explicitly account for the unique experiences of women. Resources must be provided to support pregnancy, menstruation and childcare needs in shelters and transitional housing. Expanding the stock of affordable housing, with specific attention to single mothers and older women, is vital to addressing the root causes of housing deprivation.
Additionally, combating discrimination within social services is essential. Anti-discrimination training and improved oversight can help ensure Indigenous women are treated fairly and with respect, building trust between communities and service providers.
Investing in education and job training programs tailored to women experiencing homelessness can further empower them to achieve financial independence and long-term stability. These efforts benefit not only the individuals directly affected but also society as a whole.
Addressing the homelessness crisis for Indigenous women is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity. This is an opportunity to affirm that every individual, regardless of gender or ethnicity, deserves the dignity of a safe and stable home.
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