The World Indigenous Housing Conference is the first international event to bring Indigenous leaders, politicians and policymakers, researchers and corporate heads from around the world together to learn from best practices, build a global network, and showcase Indigenous cultures.

We want international WIHC visitors to enter Canada with ease, so please make sure your passport is current. Here's where you can find out about:

● Travelling to Canada
● Passport applications/renewals for:

• United States New
• United States Renewal

• Australia New
• Australia Renewal

• New Zealand New
• New Zealand Renewal

In the earlier WIHC Call for Abstracts, we received compelling proposals for four of the confeernce themes—Health and Housing, Capacity Building, Governance, and Partnerships—but want to include more on the fifth theme, Disaster Preparedness.

Is anyone in your region providing leadership in this important area? Please ask them to submit a proposal, as we will continue to keep the Call for Abstracts open for this topic only. Download submission guidelines here.

Email submissions to Rebekah Eatmon at rebekah.eatmon@ahma-bc.org, with the subject line "WIHC 2012 Disaster Preparedness Abstract Submission."

Called "Australia’s Most Important Voice" on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine, singing sensation Gurrumul will perform at the upcoming World Indigenous Housing Conference, being held June 11-15, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Born blind, Gurrumul grew up as a member of the Gumatj clan on Elcho Island, Northern Territory, Australia. Gurrumul is changing the way national and international audiences experience his Yolngu culture, through an accessible Western music style. He sings about identity, spirit and connection with the land and ancestral beings he is related to.

Gurrumul’s eponymous debut album Gurrumul received international acclaim. Listeners connected with his angelic, high tenor voice, including Elton John, will.I.am and Sting, who are big fans. The debut sold half a million copies worldwide, reaching Triple Platinum in Australia, and won Best World Music Album at the 2008 ARIA Artisan Awards (Australian Recording Industry Association). His second solo album, Rralaka, won the 2011 ARIA Best World Music Album. Also in 2011, Gurrumul was chosen to perform for HRH the Queen of England, United States President Barack Obama, and Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary of Denmark, confirming this talented musician’s place as an international sensation, capable of transcending cultural boundaries.

"We are thrilled that Gurrumul will share his songs with delegates from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US, at our conference on June 14," says Andrew Leach, 2012 WIHC Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA), which is coordinating the conference. "This is the first international event to bring Indigenous housing, government and corporate leaders from around the world together to learn from best practices, build a global network, and showcase Indigenous cultures.
"We are also delighted to have Jana Mashonee and Pamyua performing at an Indigenous cultural reception the evening of June 13."

Jana Mashonee is Lumbee/Tuscarora, a singer, songwriter, actress and author, who has been nominated for two GRAMMY awards and won eight Native American Music Awards. She has released four albums; all are commercial and critical successes. Jana Mashonee stars in the soon to be released motion picture, Raptor Ranch, and her first book, American Indian Story – The Adventures of Sha'kona, is a cornerstone of her Jana's Kids Foundation Reading for Life program.

Pamyua brings Inuit music and culture to the world, showcasing drum-songs from Greenland and Alaska. Pamyua vocalists Phillip Blanchett, Stephen Blanchett, Ossie Kairaiuak and Karina Moeller bring "a blizzard of interlocking harmonies," together, according to Native People Magazine. Pamyua reminds listeners to embrace relationships with honor, humility and tolerance. Their performances—a fusion of traditional Inuit music and Yup’ik dance—encourage audiences to appreciate Indigenous traditions, while infusing traditional wisdom into modern culture.

In addition to an outstanding lineup of Indigenous entertainment, international leaders in Indigenous housing will speak at the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference on five key themes: Health and Housing, Capacity Building, Disaster Preparedness, Governance, and Partnerships.

"We will take recommendations on Indigenous housing forward to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for international action," adds Andrew Leach, as AHMA is a registered UNPFII participant.

The 2012 WIHC focuses on Indigenous housing providers from Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, because these developed countries share common housing experiences and have established infrastructure. Consequently, the knowledge exchange at the conference—Sharing Our Stories; Sharing Our Successes—is expected to help Indigenous people around the world achieve greater self-sufficiency and prosperity.

See our updated web-based sponsorship information. Contact the AHMA office for a customized package at 604-921-2462.

Download the new exhibitor material here.

"We are pleased to announce that Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) has signed on as a Gold Sponsor of the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference, being held June 11-15, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia," says Andrew Leach, 2012 WIHC Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA), which is coordinating the conference.

The 2012 WIHC—Sharing Our Stories; Sharing Our Successes—is the first international event to bring Indigenous housing leaders, politicians, policymakers, researchers and corporate leaders from around the world together to learn from best practices, build a global network and showcase Indigenous cultures.

"Working in partnership with Aboriginal communities and organizations is key to improve housing conditions on reserve and the quality of life of First Nations across the country," says the Honourable John Duncan, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. "By supporting initiatives such as the WIHC, our Government is working to build a future in which First Nations are self-sufficient and prosperous, and have the tools to make strong contributions to the country as a whole."

An outstanding lineup of international leaders in Indigenous housing will cover five key themes at the conference: Sharing Our Stories, Governance and Capacity Building, Government Partnerships, Housing as a Determinant of Health, and Disaster Preparedness and Response.

More than 1,000 delegates from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are expected to participate in the conference, which offers an unprecedented opportunity for dialogue among international Indigenous housing leaders and government officials.
AANDC is providing $50,000 to develop a new International Indigenous Housing Portal, which will be launched at the WIHC. The website will be a key research benefit stemming from the conference, creating a new web-based repository for knowledge on best practices everyone can use to expand capacity in their own countries.

Leaders in Indigenous housing will be able to access virtually any type of online content on the new website – such as research documents, a searchable database, discussion forum, blogs, multimedia content, email, job postings, social media, event calendar, photo galleries and RSS news feeds. AHMA and AANDC are working with the First Nations Technology Council to develop the new portal.

"We're excited about partnering with AANDC to create a new website that will sustain connections among Indigenous housing and government leaders from around the world well beyond the conference," adds Andrew Leach.

The 2012 WIHC focuses on Indigenous housing providers from Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand, because these developed countries share common housing experiences and have established infrastructure. AHMA will take recommendations on Indigenous housing from the WIHC forward to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for international action, as AHMA is a registered UNPFII participant.

For more information:

Contact the Aboriginal Housing Management Association

P: +1.604.921.2462 | 1.888.921.2462 toll free in North America
E: reception@ahma-bc.org

For information on WIHC speakers and to register, visit www.indigenous2012.com

For information on AANDC, visit www.aadnc-aandc.gc.ca or call 819-953-1160

"We are excited to announce that Vancity has signed on as a $50,000 Gold Sponsor of the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference, being held June 11-15, 2012, in Vancouver, British Columbia," says Andrew Leach, 2012 WIHC Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA), which is coordinating the conference. "This is the first international event to bring Indigenous housing leaders, politicians, policymakers, researchers and corporate leaders from around the world together to learn from best practices and build a global network."

"Our vision of redefining wealth calls on us as a financial cooperative to contribute to the financial, environmental and social well-being of the communities where our members live and work," says Stewart Anderson, Manager of Aboriginal Banking at Vancity. "Working in partnership with AHMA to support the World Indigenous Housing Conference is a perfect fit and one that is aligned with our values. We operate within the traditional territory of the Coast Salish people and work in partnership with local First Nations, the Metis community, and Aboriginal not-for-profit organizations to support community development and independence. We believe this event will foster positive lasting change and build the wealth of Indigenous communities in BC, Canada, and around the world."

An outstanding lineup of international leaders in Indigenous housing will cover five key themes at the conference: Sharing Our Stories, Governance and Capacity Building, Government Partnerships, Housing as a Determinant of Health, and Disaster Preparedness and Response.

More than 1,000 delegates from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States are expected to participate. The conference offers an unprecedented opportunity for dialogue among international Indigenous housing leaders and government officials.

In addition, AHMA will create a database of success stories and best practices everyone can use to expand capacity in their own countries, and a network to sustain connections beyond the conference. AHMA will also take recommendations on Indigenous housing from the WIHC forward to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for international action, as AHMA is a registered UNPFII participant.

"Vancity’s $50,000 sponsorship reflects our commitment to partner with Aboriginal organizations and First Nations governments to support community development and independence," adds Stewart Anderson.

"We’re grateful Vancity has come onboard as a major sponsor of the conference," says Andrew Leach. "Our partnership will help ensure the success of this world class event."

The 2012 WIHC focuses on Indigenous housing providers from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, because these developed countries share common housing experiences and have established infrastructure. Consequently, the knowledge exchange at the conference—Sharing Our Stories; Sharing Our Successes—is expected to help enable Indigenous people around the world achieve self-sufficiency and prosperity.

BC Housing, the provincial government housing agency in British Columbia, Canada, has stepped up as a lead sponsor of the 2012 WIHC, a partnership that will ensure success for this world class event.

BC Housing delivers affordable housing programs for people in need, from emergency shelter and housing for the homeless to affordable rental housing and homeownership.

BC Housing works in partnership with WIHC host, the Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) to achieve the common goal of Aboriginal self-management, self-reliance and self-sufficiency and the provision of safe, affordable housing for Aboriginal peoples. AHMA is the first and only Aboriginal social housing management agency in Canada. It was formed in BC in the mid-1990s and represents many Aboriginal housing providers across British Columbia.

"We are grateful for the strong working relationship we have with BC Housing," says Margaret Pfoh, President of AHMA, and International WIHC Committee Chair. "We share mutual goals to address Aboriginal housing issues and achieve full devolution of Aboriginal housing to Aboriginal control in BC."

An outstanding lineup of international leaders in Indigenous housing will speak at the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference, being held June 11-15, 2012, in Vancouver, BC. This is the first international event to bring Indigenous housing leaders, politicians, policymakers, researchers and corporate leaders from around the world together to learn from best practices, build a global network, and showcase Indigenous cultures.

Keynote speakers and presenters will cover five conference themes—Sharing Our Stories, Governance and Capacity Building, Government Partnerships, Housing as a Determinant of Health, and Disaster Preparedness. WIHC speakers include:

Well-known TV host and housing expert Mike Holmes will give the opening keynote address at the conference on Building Homes and Building Skills—a partnership between the Assembly of First Nations and the Holmes Group—to renovate housing in the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek First Nation in Ontario, and build a sustainable community based on green practices. Mike Holmes stars in Holmes on Homes, the #1 show on HGTV Canada. Mike Holmes will also lead a workshop at the conference—Rebuilding Devastated Communities—on strategies for Indigenous communities to build the social, financial and technical capacity to respond to natural disasters.

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo of the Assembly of First Nations will open the conference and join Mike Holmes to share information on the AFN-Holmes Group Pilot Project, designed to build housing, skills and employment capacity in First Nations communities. Ultimately, this project will lead to the creation of a First Nation Centre of Excellence on green, sustainable community design, led by the AFN. A-in-chut is a Hereditary Chief from the Ahousaht First Nation in BC, and was elected AFN National Chief in July 2009, following two terms as Regional Chief of the BC AFN. He has a Masters of Education in Adult Learning and Global Change from the University of
Technology, Sydney, Australia (in partnership with the Universities of BC, Western Cape South Africa, and Linkoping Sweden).

The Honourable Linda Burney is the first Aboriginal Member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and the most senior Aboriginal politician in Australia. She was a senior Cabinet Minister in the NSW Labor Government, and is currently Deputy Leader of the Opposition. She was also an executive member of the National Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, Director-General of the NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs, and President of the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group. At the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference, Linda Burney will lead a workshop on Women in Leadership to share insights and strategies for Indigenous women in leadership roles, based on her unique experiences as an Indigenous leader and politician.

Chief Clarence Louie from the Osoyoos Indian Band in BC has emphasized economic development as a means to improve his people’s standard of living. Under his direction, the OIB has established nine businesses and employs hundreds of people. Chief Louie is Chairperson of the National Aboriginal Economic Development Board, and has received numerous awards, including the Order of British Columbia, the province’s highest honour for outstanding achievement. At the WIHC, Chief Louie will lead a workshop called Foundations for Success on a leadership model Indigenous communities can use to preserve language and culture through economic development and wealth creation, developed by Harvard University.

Dr. Evan Adams is a Coast Salish physician and actor from the Sliammon Band near Powell River, BC. He is Director of Aboriginal Peoples’ Health in the University of BC Department of Family Practice, and the Aboriginal Health Physician Advisor to the BC Ministry of Health. Evan Adams has also starred in the Emmy Award-winning movie, Lost in the Barrens, its sequel Curse of the Viking Grave, the Business of Fancydancing, and Smoke Signals, for which he won Best Actor awards from the American Indian Film Festival and from First Americans in the Arts. Dr. Adams will lead a workshop on Social Investment and Creativity in Housing Solutions for Better Health, examining stories of successful interventions that impact housing and health.

Geoff Scott is Chief Executive Officer of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council and Adjunct Professor at the University of Technology, Sydney. He is a Founding Editor of the Journal of Indigenous Policy and has participated in the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues and the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous People, through the NSW council. At the 2012 WIHC, Geoff Scott will share the NSW Aboriginal Land Council Model for Indigenous Housing: working to secure the return of culturally significant, economically viable land, and pursuing cultural, social and economic independence for Aboriginal people in Australia.

Other distinguished speakers have also been invited, including:

• The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, federal Minister of Health, to give a keynote address on the crucial link between housing and health, one of the key conference themes
• Professor James Anaya, UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, to give a keynote presentation on his mandate to promote "good practices, including new laws, government programs, and constructive agreements between Indigenous peoples and states, to implement international standards concerning the rights of Indigenous people"
• A keynote panel discussion among national housing ministers from Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand to share their knowledge of best practices in Indigenous housing

In addition, the 2012 World Indigenous Housing Conference will include:

• A by-invitation workshop for government leaders and officials to exchange knowledge and ideas with their peers in other countries . Evening cultural receptions to showcase Indigenous performers
• A tour of Vancouver-area Indigenous housing operations

"The World Indigenous Housing Conference offers an unprecedented opportunity for dialogue among international Indigenous housing leaders and government officials," says Margaret Pfoh, 2012 WIHC Chair and President of the Aboriginal Housing Management Association in BC (AHMA), which is hosting the conference. "We will create a database of success stories and best practices everyone can use to expand capacity in their own countries, and a network to sustain connections beyond the conference."

"We will also take recommendations on Indigenous housing from our conference forward to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues for international action, as AHMA is a registered UNPFII participant," adds Andrew Leach, 2012 WIHC Director and AHMA Chief Executive Officer.

The 2012 WIHC focuses on Indigenous housing providers from Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US, because these developed countries share common housing experiences and have established infrastructure. Consequently, the knowledge exchange at Sharing Our Stories; Sharing Our Successes is expected to help enable Indigenous people around the world achieve self-sufficiency and prosperity.

Aussie Geoff Scott and Canadian Dr. Evan Adams are confirmed speakers. Check out their bios under the speakers tab for more information.