Table of ContentsIntroductionSpiritual HousesPhysical HousesConclusionIntroductionThe subject of indigenous peoples' health is complex. Many factors impact their health and well-being, including education, housing, employment, social status, income and social support systems, to name a few. This article will focus on housing as a social determinant of health. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay Housing can include physical dwellings and their conditions, as well as lack of shelter and spiritual belonging. Having adequate housing plays a vital role in the health of Indigenous men, women and children. The consequences of inadequate housing and housing can be wide-ranging and severe, from overcrowding, to physical dangers such as critical repairs needed and poor drinking water, to mental health consequences such as depression and suicide. Spiritual Homes The idea of ​​a spiritual home was discussed by Memmot and Chambers (2008, cited in Christensen, 2016). Spiritual homelessness was characterized as “collective forms of dispossession and displacement” (Young, 1998, cited in Christensen, 2016) and explained the disconnect between cultural knowledge, identity and spirituality. Colonization disrupted Indigenous family practices by removing children from their homes and sending them to residential schools, disrupting ancestral lands, and forcing the assimilation of their people into the Western European way of life. The exclusionary measures taken by Europeans against indigenous peoples had major effects on their health. ranging from proximal determinants like housing and poverty to distal effects like cultural continuity, self-determination, and a sense of belonging and Indigenous belonging (Czyzewski, 2011; Greenwood and de Leeuw, 2012; Reading and Wein, 2009, cited in Christenson, 2016). Christensen (2016) also adds that “home is not limited to four walls” and that many Indigenous men, women and children have become “homeless in [their] homeland.” Feeling spiritually homeless compounds the effects of literal homelessness on mental health. health, exacerbating cases of depression and suicide, among others, which will be discussed in more detail in this article. OvercrowdingInadequate family life can cause a myriad of problems for Aboriginal children, who then grow up to have children they do not care for, and the cycle of poor health is perpetuated across generations. The importance of the home is often forgotten and homes become overcrowded due to the lack of housing options in many areas. This is often the case because indigenous people have a harder time finding work because they are undereducated, underqualified and many of them face racism as their main obstacle. Some may believe that providing housing for friends and family members is beneficial to Indigenous kin (Christensen, 2016), but overcrowded homes often strain an already precarious financial situation, leading to the loss of a accommodation for all members. Mental health can be greatly affected by these types of living conditions. A feeling of not belonging, insecurity and lack of self-determination can be detrimental to children who may then seek attention elsewhere, become addicted to drugs and alcohol and, as is common in some communities of reserve, are more inclined to suicide (Chandler and Lalonde, 2008 cited.