Misunderstanding, racism influence approval of Aboriginal affordable housing plan

The Red Deer Native Friendship Society is blaming racism and misunderstanding after its proposal for an Aboriginal cultural centre and affordable housing project in Red Deer’s northeast was shot down at a public hearing earlier in October.

“At the public hearing the underlying issues were racism and the use of classic NIMBY (not in my backyard), unrealistic issues,” said Tanya Schur, executive director with the Red Deer Native Friendship Society.

Red Deer city council rejected the friendship society’s proposal for the development in the Clearview North community after local opposition turned the tides at the public hearing on Oct. 1.

Mayor Morris Flewwelling said the city worked hard to push for the project, but ultimately the “stars were not lining up.” He agreed with Schur’s contention that racism and misunderstanding were present at the meeting.

“Whether people were for or against this project, hurtful things were said and hurtful things were implied,” he said. “Council is supportive of the friendship society’s vision and we are all very sorry that this came to the path it did.”

Council voted unanimously on an additional resolution to work with the friendship society and the urban Aboriginal community to develop a cultural centre and affordable housing. The friendship society proposed that the cultural centre be a place for community support services, child care and a gathering space for ceremonies. Administration was directed to come back with options in four months.

The friendship society, Elders, mayor and two council members met informally on Oct. 23 to see if a solution could be found, Schur says.

“What we wanted is for them to listen, because they have been listening to neighbours and it came at the expense of the Aboriginal community,” she said. “Our community is really feeling betrayed.”

But following the meeting Schur says she was feeling a little more optimistic.

“The Red Deer Native Friendship Society continues to be committed to the Aboriginal cultural centre and 16 affordable housing units in Red Deer and is optimistic that council will honour their word to work with the society and the Aboriginal community,” she said.

Among the issues, however, is what is to be done with the Clearview North land. The city acquired the land from the province on the stipulation that it be used for affordable housing for at least 15 years. Affordable housing is defined as rent 10 per cent below market value.

City of Red Deer Senior Planner Orlando Towes says some Clearview residents argued that affordable housing creates and encourages crime.

“A lot of people have affordable housing, single parents. It’s not a question of someone’s character,” Towes said.

“I think there was some confusion that we were going to build a rehab centre or something and that was never the intention,” Schur said. “I think the neighbours need to know that the Aboriginal community does contribute to culture and wants to contribute to the community.”

Going forward the Red Deer Native Friendship Society board of directors has a strong resolve to advance the project, whether it is somewhere else in the city, Schur says.

“Sometimes we don’t use our voices as Aboriginal people but we need to use them now because we can contribute to urban settings,” she said.