Written by Jorge Garza, Nathan Li, Erika Massoud, and Justin Williams
When people can express their cultural identities through language, food, land, arts, and storytelling, communities become more connected, resilient, and equitable. When they cannot, the costs are borne by individuals and communities alike.
This brief, the seventh in a series supporting the call for a Canada-wide Strategy for Belonging, makes the case that cultural connection is foundational to community wellbeing, not an optional addition to policy frameworks. It presents four key findings, a set of data-driven questions, a story of community-led action from the Kahnawà:ke First Nation, and four concrete recommendations for policymakers, funders, sector leaders, and advocates ready to act.
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BRIEF 1 | Belonging as Relational Infrastructure in Public Health
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BRIEF 2 | Working Together for Safer Communities
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BRIEF 3 | Housing, Home, and Belonging
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BRIEF 4 | Income Security as a Pathway to Belonging
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BRIEF 5 | Youth Employment and Belonging
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BRIEF 6 | Why Belonging Matters For Community Climate Action
