Deusdedit Ruhangariyo
Special to ICT
Around the World: The government of Western Australia is seeking Indigenous providers to support homeless services while there is no plan for the homeless in New Zealand, Atlantic Indigenous artists have received support for the Santa Fe market, and an Uyghur woman is jailed for 17 years for teaching kids Islam.
AUSTRALIA: In search of Indigenous providers
The Western Australian government has issued an expression of interest inviting service providers to deliver outreach support services for individuals experiencing homelessness in the Perth metropolitan area, the National Indigenous Times reported on Jan. 9.
The expression of interest was released Thursday for an outreach service designed to support highly vulnerable individuals with complex needs, assisting their transition from homelessness to safe accommodation and housing.
This restricted expression of interest specifically invites Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations or registered Aboriginal businesses to deliver the service.
The process aligns with the government’s Whole of Government Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations Strategy, aimed at providing culturally responsive and secure services that empower Aboriginal people.
Successful respondents will deliver culturally appropriate outreach and intensive support for people experiencing chronic rough sleeping, connecting them directly with specialist support services.
Western Australia Housing and Homelessness Minister John Carey highlighted the state government’s “significant funding boosts, including the expansion of assertive outreach in key locations across the Perth CBD, Midland, Joondalup, Stirling, Rockingham, Mandurah, and Fremantle areas.”
“Coordinated outreach services are crucial in supporting individuals experiencing chronic homelessness by connecting them with intensive wraparound support services and safe accommodation or housing,” he said.
“We are committed to empowering Aboriginal Community Controlled Organizations and registered Aboriginal businesses to deliver culturally appropriate support services.”
Meanwhile in New Zealand, there is no plan for the homeless. Te Ao Maori News reported on Jan. 10 that homelessness is increasing in the Te Anau basin on the South Island, but a Fiordland conceptual plan reveals there is no long-term support for those affected.
Efforts to tackle the issue with fresh strategies have yielded no results, according to Fiordland Community Board chair Diane Holmes.
The Te Anau Basin Development Plan, published last month, aims to guide future decisions for the Fiordland Community Board. It addresses topics such as the economy, population changes, and housing. The report highlights a shortage of affordable housing in Te Anau and a growing demand for elderly accommodation. Homelessness is on the rise, yet there is no long-term support available locally.
While new houses are being constructed, many serve as holiday homes or short-term rentals, skewing availability. The report stresses an increasing need for social housing, exacerbated by the high cost of land and construction.
Holmes noted that housing issues had been a long-standing concern for the town and were reflective of broader national challenges. Social workers reported families struggling without adequate housing, while government support had diminished. “We’ve reached out to many agencies and tried multi-agency approaches, but it feels like hitting a brick wall,” she said.
Despite the challenges, Holmes expressed optimism about the report, noting Te Anau’s potential for both residential and commercial growth. The 2022 Luxmore subdivision introduced more intensive development, permitting up to three dwellings per section.
Tourism, a key industry in the region, also adds pressure to the housing market. Short-term rentals are vital for visitor accommodation but reduce long-term housing options.
CANADA: Indigenous artists headed to Santa Fe
Indigenous artists in Atlantic Canada have the chance to broaden their export markets by presenting their work at the Santa Fe Indian Market, the largest Indigenous art market in North America, supported by the Craft Alliance Atlantic Association, CBC News reported on Jan. 10.
The association is supporting 12 Indigenous artists from Atlantic Canada to attend the market this August. The annual event, hosted by the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts, features over 1,000 Indigenous artists and draws around 100,000 attendees.
It offers artists the chance to sell their work and compete for awards in categories like jewelry, pottery, beadwork and sculpture.
Nancy Oakley, a Mi’kmaw and Wampanoag pottery artist from Eskasoni First Nation, sees the opportunity as transformative. “It just opens artists up to bump themselves up a new level on their CV and meet with art collectors and galleries who might notice them,” she said.
Having participated in a reconnaissance trip to Santa Fe with CAAA, Oakley is finalizing her application and hopes to be selected. “Being selected would be an ‘I made it’ moment,” she said. “It’s intimidating and a little scary, but also really exciting.”
Craft Alliance Atlantic Association Executive Director Bernard Burton emphasizes the initiative’s value for local Indigenous artists. “We want everybody to have success going down there. We know there are sales, and we know there is opportunity here,” he told CBC News.
Burton’s team is helping artists prepare applications for the market’s juried market, which has strict criteria, and is providing support for booth fees, marketing, export permits and travel. Jewelry designer Ben Sickles, of the Eskasoni and Oneida Nation of the Thames, is applying and sees the market as a chance to increase the value of his work. “My stuff is priced much lower than it would be if I was living and selling exclusively in the U.S.,” he said.
Exporting regulations, particularly for organic materials like sweetgrass and animal furs, are a challenge, but the Craft Alliance Atlantic Association will assist with permits and provide consulting to ensure smooth importing.
CHINA: 17-year sentence for teaching Islam
An Uyghur woman has received a 17-year prison sentence in Xinjiang for teaching religious lessons to her two sons and a neighbor, Radio Free Asia reported on Jan. 10.
Seylihan Rozi, 49, was imprisoned for engaging in “illegal underground religious activity” by teaching others the 10 Quranic verses recited during “namaz,” the practice of praying five times a day, according to a policeman in Saybagh village who oversaw her case. The officer did not provide further details about her imprisonment.
A staffer from the Bulaqsu Township Party Committee in Kashgar prefecture’s Konasheher county confirmed that Rozi, originally from Saybagh village, was imprisoned for her “illegal religious activities.”
Chinese authorities have increasingly penalized Uyghurs in Xinjiang for religious practices, such as teaching the Quran to children. Leaked government documents, data from Uyghur rights organizations, and testimonies from former detainees in “re-education” camps reveal a broader crackdown on Uyghur religious practices. Acts like reading the Quran, praying, growing a beard, or attending mosques have been criminalized under the guise of combating separatism, terrorism and extremism.
Rozi’s two sons were also sentenced to prison for receiving “illegal religious education” from their mother, the Saybagh police officer reported. They were given sentences of seven and 10 years, respectively.
Another officer at the Saybagh police station stated that Rozi was sentenced for teaching “illegal religious education” to her neighbor, Yakup Hidayet, and participating in “illegal underground religious activities.” Hidayet received a nine-year sentence for his involvement, the officer added.
My final thoughts
My final thoughts are in Western Australia where the government is taking a strong stand against homelessness with significant investments and innovative strategies. The state has committed billions to increase social housing and address this urgent issue, setting ambitious targets to create thousands of new homes.
A key part of Western Australia’s plan focuses on long-term solutions. Programs like this provide permanent housing alongside personalized support, ensuring people not only find shelter but also the help they need to rebuild their lives.
The state is also prioritizing culturally responsive services by working with Aboriginal organizations and businesses. This approach ensures that support is inclusive and empowers communities often most affected by homelessness.
Western Australia’s efforts are a model for the world. Other regions and nations are encouraged to adopt similar strategies, investing in housing and support systems that offer lasting solutions and a pathway to stability for those in need.
Remember, shelter is a basic human need.
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