Combined with the housing crisis that has persisted in Val-d’Or since 2005, the growth of the urban Aboriginal population (Statistics Canada data show a boom of 322 per cent growth in the Aboriginal population in Val-d’Or
census agglomeration between 1996 and 2011), prejudice and racism against people from First Nations communities unfortunately remain very common and greatly affect the quality of life of Aboriginal people in town. The Friendship Centre has also identified, after conducting a survey within its departments, nearly 125 individuals and/or Indigenous families who have urgent needs for affordable housing on the Val-d’Or territory. In most cases, these marginalized people currently inhabit housing that is substandard and/or too small for their family.
These conditions affect their health and that of their children.
The Kijaté Native Friendship Centre project in Val d’Or will construct 24 social and community housing units.

More than just a social housing project, Kijaté is part of a truly socially innovative approach based on collective action and citizen mobilization

This initiative is specifically tied to the urban vision of Aboriginal Friendship Centre Society, which encourages speaking out, taking action and collective decision-making. The full exercise of the rights to education, to health, to security of the person, equality, non-discrimination and the right to self-determination are all affected by the urgency of ensuring housing rights.

The innovative nature of Kijaté comes from a culturally relevant approach that requires an understanding of the historical, economic, political, legal, social and community contexts of Aboriginal people, and is a new response to the challenges and needs of the community. The Kijaté project is dedicated to low-income Indigenous families who have special needs for integrating and adapting to life in the city. More concretely, communal spaces will be developed to allow the deployment of frontline services from the Friendship Centre, in particular by organizing collective cooking activities, various workshops, community training and psychosocial services.

The Kijaté project is the result of an Aboriginal community process that began in 2009 and led to an agreement by the SHQ to support the construction of 24 units, with the conditional commitment confirmed in November 2015.

Members of the community have been waiting patiently, but with great hope, for seven years for the start of construction, planned for the fall of 2016
– Édith Cloutier, General manager

In addition to the financial partners, the Office municipal d’habitation de Val d’Or has provided support through its expertise and its management of rent supplement program.

In addition to providing access to housing and culturally appropriate and safe primary care services for Aboriginals, Kijaté promotes activities aimed at developing self-reliance, improving living conditions and social integration of urban Aboriginals via community support and through the development of social connections.

Kijaté will contribute to engaging the urban Aboriginal community in a social transformation so that everyone can become active and satisfied citizens, reflecting their culture and interacting as equals