As Quebec’s Aboriginal population continues to surge, people across the province are travelling between Nations and cities in unprecedented volume. This month, the Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Quebec (RCAAQ) announced the impending release of a new study carried out over the last four years with the ODENA Research Alliance. The groups aim to use social and economic mapping to better understand the conditions that govern the mobility of Aboriginals between urban environments and their communities.
“Our goal is to develop new documentation that reflects the dynamics in the mobility and circulation of Aboriginal people,” lead researcher Carole Lévesque said in a press release.
The project is being accompanied by a major survey currently gathering information from 1000 Aboriginals living in urban environments that are home to a Native Friendship Centre.
“This information and these new profiles will assist the centres in their work,” said Edith Cloutier, president of the RCAAQ. “It will help us to consolidate and build initiatives for accomplishing the Friendship Centre initiative.”
