Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: Western Australia Indigenous tenants fight no-grounds evictions in public housing, Indigenous youth shine in cabaret show, Sami leader condemns Finnish court ruling as “devastating,” and Brazilian Academy inducts first Indigenous member.
AUSTRALIA: No-grounds evictions challenged
Two legal challenges in Western Australia aim to bring an end to no-grounds evictions for public housing tenants, the National Indigenous Times reported on April 20.
Lawyers representing two Indigenous public housing tenants are set to challenge the Department of Communities’ practice of utilizing no-grounds evictions and fixed-term public housing tenancies, arguing it violates procedural fairness and constitutes legal unreasonableness.
This legal battle could potentially impact over 1,000 public housing tenants on fixed-term agreements, leaving them vulnerable to eviction without cause.
According to lawyer Kate Davis, Western Australia stands alone among Australian authorities in its continued use of no-grounds evictions against public housing tenants.
“The fact that every other state provides public housing without these unfair evictions shows they are not necessary,” she said, according to the National Indigenous Times.
She highlighted the disproportionate impact on Indigenous families, with more than half of those evicted without cause being Indigenous. Davis stressed the dire consequences of such evictions, citing the likelihood of homelessness and its detrimental effects on families and children, potentially leading to their involvement in the justice system or state care.
Davis emphasized the need for the Department of Communities to prioritize supporting families to maintain their homes rather than subjecting them to homelessness. She argued that the existence of public housing systems in other states without such unjust eviction practices underscores their unnecessary nature.
In response, Western Australia Housing Minister John Carey defended the government’s social housing efforts, pointing to a reduction in evictions compared to previous years and emphasizing the department’s attempts to engage tenants and provide support services. However, he acknowledged situations where eviction becomes necessary due to risks posed to neighbors or the community.
“The stats do not lie,” he told reporters, according to the National Indigenous Times. “Under the previous Liberal government in 2015-2016, there were more than 300 bailiff evictions. Our number in the last year is below 50.”
CANADA: Indigenous youth shine in cabaret
Indigenous youth geared up for the 10th annual Native Youth Theatre cabaret show on April 21, CBC news reported.
The free theatre program, initiated in 2014 at the Manitoba Theatre for Young People, offers youth an opportunity to nurture their creativity, delve into the performing arts, and reconnect with their cultural roots.
This year, three theatre classes converged on stage to present a three-act play centered on one of the seven sacred teachings. “Our play ‘Oshki & Migizi and Living the Good Life’ revolves around the Eagle teaching of the seven teachings of love,” explained Nova Courchene, co-director of the show, according to CBC news. Approximately 45 youth aged eight to 18 graced the stage during the cabaret show at the Manitoba Youth Theatre Centre at The Forks.
The culmination of months of programming and rehearsals, which commenced in October last year, the show holds significant meaning. “It’s really important that we keep bringing ceremony and culture and language into theatre to help our kids reconnect,” emphasized Courchene. “A lot of our kids are urban Indigenous, which means they may not have the same access to ceremony and traditional ways of life in the city.”
The performance also shines a spotlight on the concept of seven generations — the importance of safeguarding the earth for future generations. “When we are stewards to the land and when we take care of each other, seven generations after us are taken care of as well. We’re thinking that far ahead into the future,” Courchene underscored.
Jayden James, 14, shared his pre-show jitters as he prepared for his debut performance with the group. He expressed his enjoyment of the classes, noting that “not just us but the younger kids are learning about their [culture] and the language, too.” Reflecting on his own experience, he added, “I haven’t had that chance to learn about that until I was older,” according to CBC News.
FINLAND: Sami leader condemns court ruling
At a United Nations forum in New York, the president of the Sámi Parliament in Finland denounced a recent Finnish court ruling as “devastating,” labeling it a violation of Sámi autonomy. The ruling, which imposed individuals onto the Sámi electoral roll against the Parliament’s expressed wishes, was sharply condemned, Eye on the Arctic reported on April 17.
Pirita Näkkäläjärvi, addressing the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, vehemently asserted the stance of the Sámi Parliament in Finland: “These decisions constitute – again – a violation of the right to self-determination of the Sámi in Finland and a violation of human rights.”
The original 2023 election results faced annulment by Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court in March. The court’s ruling pointed to the exclusion of 65 eligible individuals from the Sámi voter list, deeming it a critical error that significantly influenced the election outcome and rendered rectification unfeasible due to its impact on candidate selection.
“Finland’s Supreme Administrative Court ordered 65 persons – outsiders from our People’s point of view – to be included in the electoral roll of the Sámi Parliament in Finland,” Näkkäläjärvi emphasized in her address, according to the Guardian. “These are persons that our Sámi Parliament bodies do not recognize as Sámi, and who do not fulfill the criteria for the right to vote.”
The Sami Parliament in Finland has persistently advocated for amendments to the Sámi Parliamentary Act, seeking sole authority in determining who should be included on the electoral roll, a demand echoed by UN bodies since 2019. Although a new proposal has been negotiated with Helsinki, its finalization by the Finnish Parliament is urgently required, Näkkäläjärvi stressed.
“Luckily the world is watching,” she remarked. “UN treaty bodies stated in 2019 and 2022 that on the matter of the electoral roll of the Sámi Parliament, Finland violates international human rights conventions, namely the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.”
Despite the setbacks posed by recent court rulings, Näkkäläjärvi urged the Sámi not to lose heart as they strive to address the electoral roll issue, emphasizing their duty to defend the right to self-determination as an Indigenous People. The repeat elections are slated for June.
The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, hosting 2,000 delegates, will continue until April 26.
BRAZIL: Academy welcomes first Indigenous member
The Indigenous people of Brazil bore witness to a historic moment as the Brazilian Academy of Letters (Academia Brasileira de Letras) welcomed its first Indigenous member in its 150-year history. On April 5, Ailton Krenak was inaugurated into its ranks at the Brazilian Academy of Letters in Rio de Janeiro.
Chair 5, formerly occupied by historian José Murilo de Carvalho until his passing in August 2023, was passed on to him. Ministers Silvio Almeida and Margareth Menezes graced the ceremony, alongside distinguished members of the Brazilian Academy of Letters. Krenak highlighted the Indigenous plurality he embodies within the institution.
Reflecting on his appointment, Krenak said, “Since they invited me to occupy this seat, I asked myself: ‘Can 300 fit in this chair?’ As Mario de Andrade used to say, I am 300. I am no more than one, but I can invoke more than 300. In this case, 305 people, who in the last 30 years have come to say, ‘I am here.’”
Born in Itabirinha, Minas Gerais, in 1953, Krenak, a multifaceted figure with honorary doctorates, co-founded the Alliance of Forest Peoples and the Union of Indigenous Nations, advocating for Indigenous rights. Honored with the Juca Pato Intellectual of the Year Prize in 2020, he now resides in the Krenak Indigenous Reserve in Resplendor, Minas Gerais.
Krenak’s appointment marks a departure from literary norms marginalizing Indigenous voices in Brazil’s cultural discourse.
“As we teeter on the brink of the greatest environmental crisis in recorded human history, Ailton Krenak reminds us that hope still exists and that we can postpone the end of our world,” Assistant Professor Mercos Colon of Florida State University, a close friend of Krenak, told ICT.
My final thoughts
My thoughts are in Western Australia, which is the only region in the country where Indigenous tenants in public housing can be evicted on no-grounds.
No-grounds evictions not only disregard the rights of vulnerable individuals and families but also exacerbates existing inequalities. Such practices often lead to instability and uncertainty, causing significant distress and upheaval for those affected.
Moreover, Indigenous communities, which already face systemic challenges and historical injustices, are disproportionately impacted by these eviction policies, further deepening social and economic disparities.
As a way forward, implementing comprehensive reforms that prioritize tenant protections and promote housing security for all should be established. This includes establishing clear guidelines for eviction procedures, ensuring access to legal representation for tenants facing eviction, and investing in alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Additionally, there needs to be greater investment in affordable housing initiatives and support services to address the underlying issues contributing to housing instability, such as poverty, unemployment and inadequate social support networks. By adopting an integrated approach that prioritizes human dignity and social justice, we can create a housing system that truly serves the needs of all members of society.
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