Regina city councillor's question about Indigenous people supposedly wanting to be homeless sparks outrage

A question Regina Ward 7 Coun. Terina Shaw asked about homelessness and Indigenous culture during a city council meeting has sparked a conversation about cultural misconceptions.

The question came up during discussion of a motion aimed at ending homelessness in Regina.

Shaw's question, posed to Sheila Wignes-Paton of the Phoenix Residential Society during last Wednesday's city council meeting, included an anecdote about an Indigenous person from Regina Treaty/Status Indian Services (RT/SIS) that Shaw had spoken with.

Shaw said she was told there are people within the Indigenous culture who do not want homes.

"Can you address that and speak to that please? Because until I had heard that from her, I had no idea there were people like that who existed, and I guess that does exist, and are you aware of it?" Shaw asked.

Wignes-Paton responded by saying, "I think maybe it's settler culture imposing something on the Indigenous community, and some may choose to not have a home per se. They're more comfortable in living with different people [and] moving around, so I can see that that happens."

Wignes-Paton went on to say the majority of people Phoenix Residential works with in its home project are Indigenous and that everybody's individual wishes are respected.

Shaw then followed up.

"That just verifies what she said, that there always will be people that are quote-unquote homeless in the Indigenous culture because of what they prefer, through the mayor, is that correct?" Shaw asked.

"Yes, I would say it would be," Wignes-Patron responded.

Later in the meeting, Kale MacLellan presented her support for the motion to end homelessness. At the end of her presentation she spoke directly to councillor Shaw.

"No, there are not people who want to be homeless. Everyone wants a place to call home. Some people choose to travel, just like people who choose to spend their winters in Arizona or Florida," MacLellan said.

"Framing homelessness as a choice is a weird take. Nobody chooses to be homeless. Nobody chooses to be insecure."

Ward 6 Coun. Daniel LeBlanc asked MacLellan if she happened to be Indigenous and if she was familiar with the traditions of Plains Indigenous people.