The Site Selection Committee surveys the location for the women's shelter at Montreal Lake Cree Nation. From left: PAGC Senator Nolan Henderson, MLCN-RCMP Corporal Ron Umpherville, Montreal Lake Cree Nation (MLCN) Councillor Carol Naytowhow, MLCN Vice Chief Dean Henderson, MLCN Chief Joyce Naytowhow, PAGC Women’s Commission Chair Shirley Henderson, MLCN Councillor Ricky Bird, and PAGC Director of Housing and Technical Services Frank Bighead. (Submitted photo/PAGC)

By paNOW Staff

safe space

PAGC to build new safe shelter for women and girls

Jun 17, 2021 | 4:32 PM

Prince Albert Grand Council (PAGC) has announced plans to build a new emergency safe shelter for women and girls experiencing and fleeing violence and domestic abuse.

It’s hoped the new building can be ready for the spring of 2023.

In a media release issued Thursday, the PAGC said it plans on building the shelter in Montreal Lake Cree Nation to support Indigenous women and children through funding support of $4.39 million from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)’s Shelter Enhancement Program.

Indigenous Services Canada will also provide $856,000 per year for the first 5 years to support operational costs.

The 10-room, 25-bed facility will include a primary health care clinical space, family rooms, a cultural group counselling room, and multi-purpose room for youth and children.

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From left: PAGC Senator Nolan Henderson and PAGC Director of Housing and Technical Services Frank Bighead survey the location for the planned shelter. (Submitted photo/PAGC)

“We are pleased to move forward on this initiative, thanks to the funding support of Canada. Every time women and her children are forced out of their homes because of domestic violence, our communities lose out on valued members, knowledge, skills, and life potential,” PAGC Grand Chief Brian Hardlotte said in the media release.

“This new initiative will provide a ‘home away from home’ for women that will include cultural-based shelter programming and services with strong community and Elder supported healing as part of our collective efforts to eradicate domestic violence.”

PAGC Women’s Commission will serve as an oversight body of representatives for the shelter.

“There is a demand for safe shelters in Northern Saskatchewan,” PAGC Women’s Commission Chair Shirley Henderson said.

“Our Indigenous women face higher levels of poverty, unemployment, violence, and illness than other females in the general population, and there’s a need for strengths-based supports and services to women and girls who need mental, spiritual, and emotional supports for themselves and their children.”

Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2022, and it is expected to be completed within 12 months in the spring of 2023.

On Thursday the Government of Canada, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC), with the help of Indigenous partners selected recipients for the construction of 12 new shelters across Canada for Indigenous women, children, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people escaping family violence.

The federal government said these shelters will be Indigenous-led, and will provide vital refuge and culturally appropriate critical supports and services to help survivors of family violence recover from the trauma of their experiences, access support programming and create a stable environment where they can begin to regain an independent life.

–

panews@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @princealbertnow