Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) has secured funding to build and operate a ‘safe house’ shelter in Burns Lake for First Nations women and children who are fleeing violence.
Although the Elizabeth Fry Society already has a shelter in Burns Lake, their shelter is not specifically for First Nations.
“There is certainly a need for First Nations owned and operated safe homes along the Highway of Tears corridor,” said CSFS spokesperson Marlaena Mann. “This will be the only First Nations safe house of its kind in the area.”
Approximately 10 new positions will be needed to run the 24-hour facility. The 4500 square feet shelter will be able accommodate up to 23 occupants.
“We anticipate that women and children escaping family violence will be able to stay for up to three months,” explained Mann. “However, the amount of time may vary according to funder policies and need.”
Although the target audience will not be men, Mann says CSFS intends to incorporate a wraparound holistic approach which includes service provision to families.
“We believe that men need to be a part of the solution to addressing family violence against women,” said Mann. “The details of what this holistic wraparound model of service will look like will be ironed out through community consultation with our member nations in the Burns Lake area.”
The new shelter will be build in partnership with Lake Babine Nation (LBN) and it will be located within village boundaries on the Woyenne reserve.
“It is really important that we offer quality and appropriate services for women, children and men, and provide the space for healing towards wellness,” said LBN Chief Wilf Adam.
According to CSFS, the location was strategically chosen to address the significant need for culturally specific safe house services in the centre of the Hwy. 16 corridor, also known as the Highway of Tears.
“The Burns Lake surrounding area has a high population of First Nations who face significant social and cultural barriers to accessing services,” said Mann. “When services are not available locally, individuals migrate to urbanized hubs such as Prince George or the Vancouver east side.”
“First Nations women are 3.5 times more likely to experience family violence in Canada than their non-indigenous counterparts,” she added.
An integrated approach across sectors will be used to supporting holistic wellness for individuals and families who access services at the new safe house. Programming will be designed using a blend of evidenced based best practices blended with traditional healing approaches for First Nations people.
“Our objective is to provide a roadmap for individuals escaping family violence to rebuild their lives,” explained CSFS board director Chief Corrina Leween. “Supports will be made available for the empowerment of women, along with a plan to create a wellness strategy for the family and nation.”
Site preparation for the project is scheduled to start within the next few months with a targeted completion date for mid-2018.
The estimated cost of the building is just under $2 million. The project will be funded by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation with operational funding being provided by Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada.
