Some First Nations women are reportedly getting caught in a financial dispute between their reserves and a battered women’s shelter that’s also affecting their privacy.
Battlefords Interval House executive director Ann McArthur says the woman’s home reserve is responsible for covering her costs until she finds a permanent home off-reserve.
But she says some reserves say they can’t afford to pay those costs.
Aboriginal Affairs spokesman Trevor Sutter says, in most cases, the reserve pays the costs and then the department reimbures it.
McArthur says that creates a privacy issue.
She says that’s because, at some point, the temporary shelter they stay in has to bill the home reserve.
McArthur says that can cause confidentiality issues, due to a reserve’s small population.
She says that’s why transition houses like hers would like to see Aboriginal Affairs pay for it all, so reserve governments don’t know where these women are staying.