IndexIntroductionSpiritual homesPhysical homesConclusionIntroductionThe topic of health for indigenous populations is complex. There are many factors that influence their health and well-being, including education, housing, employment, social status, income status 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 Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Housing can include physical dwellings and their conditions, as well as lack of housing and spiritual belonging. Having adequate housing plays a critical role in the health of Indigenous men, women and children. The effects of having inadequate housing and housing can be far-reaching and severe in nature, ranging from overcrowding, to physical hazards 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 raised by Memmot and Chambers (2008, as cited in Christensen, 2016). Spiritual homelessness was defined 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 domestic practices by removing children from their homes to attend residential schools, destroying ancestral lands, and forcing the assimilation of their people into the Western European way of life. The exclusionary measures adopted by Europeans against indigenous populations have had important effects on their health ranging from proximal determinants such as housing and poverty to distal effects such as cultural continuity, self-determination and people's sense of home and belonging. indigenous (Czyzewski, 2011; Greenwood and de Leeuw, 2012; Reading and Wein, 2009, as 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.” health, exacerbating cases of depression and suicide, among others, which will be discussed later in this article. Overcrowding Inadequate home life can cause myriad problems for Indigenous children, who then grow up to have children they cannot care for, and the cycle of poor health is perpetuated across generations. The importance of home is often forgotten and homes become overcrowded due to a lack of housing opportunities in many areas. Often, this is the case because Indigenous people have difficulty finding work because they may be under-educated, under-skilled and many face racism as the main barrier. Some may believe that providing a place for friends and family to stay is beneficial to the indigenous kin (Christensen, 2016), however overcrowding of homes often puts a strain on an already difficult financial situation, causing all members to lose their homes . Mental health can be greatly affected by these types of living conditions. A feeling of not belonging, insecurity, and a lack of self-determination can be harmful to children who may seek attention elsewhere, become addicted to drugs and alcohol, and, as is common in some reservation communities, are more likely to commit suicide (Chandler and Lalonde, 2008 cited in Loppie-Reading, 2013). Suicide ideation has affected nearly 43% of Canadian Inuit adolescents and young adults (Lehti et al. 2009 p. 1199). Furthermore, cases of communicable diseases are much higher in overcrowded homes.