Deputy Grand Chief Natasha Martin was in Winnipeg Nov. 3 to 5 for the National Conference on Ending Homelessness which was attended by more than 2,000 delegates.

She and co-presenter Christine Heavens, the director of community development and services for the Cochrane District Services Board, spoke on their efforts to build a district-wide homelessness strategy across urban, rural and remote coastal communities.

This partnership formed in June when Mushkegowuk Council brought together regional leaders in an effort to establish an enhanced, district-wide response to homelessness through a coalition-based approach.

“Indigenous leadership could no longer sit outside the governance of a system affecting Indigenous people the most,” said Deputy Grand Chief Martin, citing the disproportionately high number of homeless people who identify as Indigenous.

In June 2026, an analysis found that 55.7 per cent of homeless people across the district identified as Indigenous despite the fact only 18.7 per cent of the entire local population is of aboriginal descent.

At the national conference this week, the Deputy Grand Chief highlighted the work Mushkegowuk has been doing alongside the Cochrane District Services Board. She said the partnership is working well, helping to identify and address gaps in service.

“One thing about this leadership table is that we all have the same goal and it’s to help people — not just Omushkego people, but everybody,” said Martin. “That’s what I really like about this table. I’m feeling very hopeful with this table moving forward.”