The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations wants to be apart of a review of Regina’s Raising Hope Program operated by the Street Workers Advocacy Project after the death of a former First Nations resident.
The FSIN said that Marilyn Gordon of the George Gordon First Nation was evicted from the women’s shelter four months prior to her death and that several staff members resigned or were terminated after a change in management.
“These homes are for prevention and the protection of our vulnerable First Nations women,” said FSIN Vice Chief Heather Bear.
The FSIN alleges there was a loss in cultural programs and trauma-informed practice and the environment of the program became very institutionalized.
The women are often left without the basic needs and supports necessary for their healing journey and reported the home felt like a jail.
“Our women need culture and tradition in their lives for their spiritual, mental and physical wellbeing and when those services or programs are taken away, our women become even more vulnerable than they already are. We have to make sure they have access to language, cultural and our traditional practices and medicines, especially when they are on their healing journey,” explained Bear.
“The Ministry has contracted MNP to conduct an independent, third-party program and board governance review of the Raising Hope Moving Families Forward program and the Street Worker’s Advocacy Project. We believe this is important to ensure independence, transparency and public confidence in the review process. Our understanding is this review process will include MNP reaching out to the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations,” said Mitch Tremblay, Executive Director of Child and Family Programs Community Services, Ministry of Social Services.
(Photo: FSIN speaking at the press conference Wednesday. Courtesy of FSIN Facebook.)