In the spring of last year, the Metis Nation Columbia River Society (MNCRS) received funding to open an office in Golden.
Since then, the MNCRS has become somewhat of an advocate for all different types of Indigenous people in Golden.
Davene Dunn has seen many people come through the doors since they first opened, and a lot of them are men in need.
This is what spurred her idea to get service providers in Golden to talk about what can be done to help vulnerable male populations.
Since Golden is located along the Trans-Canada Highway, it receives its fair share of travellers and nomads.
In the summertime, these people may find shelter in tents along the river and in the woods. In the winter, this type of accommodation can come at a costly price: freezing cold temperatures, hypothermia, and death.
In the past, resources were available to send men and women along their way via bus.
But, another side effect of Greyhound shutting down, is that this service is no longer available. Those who become stranded in Golden have nowhere to turn.
And for men, this can mean facing sleepless nights without shelter or resources to help them in their tough situation.
At the end of January, community members from groups like the MNCRS, health services, town council, Golden Community Resources Society, the Golden Community Coop, RCMP victim services, the Golden Family Center, mental health nurses, men’s support counsellors, and a couple churches gathered at the Golden Family Center to begin a discussion on men’s services.
They began working together to introduce themselves to each other if they hadn’t met, and started identifying existing services for men in Golden, and determining where there are gaps in services.
Some top concerns the group discussed included the need for emergency housing and shelter, transportation in and out of Golden, men’s suicide rates, the stigma to accessing services for men, one-sided referral systems, and the general lack of community information available when seeking support.
“They suffer in silence,” Dunn said, adding that MNCRS sees a multitude of people suffering from addictions, vulnerable kids, and people going through the court system.
This initial meeting between service providers was intended as a brain storming session to get the ball rolling on the topic of men’s health services.
“We all agreed that we needed something in Golden,” Dunn said. “They all felt there was a need.”
Some potential ideas that came from the meeting included providing a daytime drop in space for men to get warm, enjoy coffee, use the phone, and fill out paperwork while they try to get back on their feet. Some communities have beds available and provide hot meals for those in need, which could also become a possibility. Someone suggested creating a directory of services that could help point men in the right direction when they need assistance.
While everyone is keen and agree about the need, many of the people at the meeting are at full capacity with their positions.
Moving forward, the group is looking for someone to chair and co-chair meetings like these.
