It’s been another fabulous day in Moose Factory with lots of great conversations, story telling and good ideas.
Here are some photos by my favorite photographer and partner, Will.
Category Archives: Linda’s Blog
Well here I am in Moose factory on the Moose Cree First Nation situated on the mighty Moose River in Northern Ontario close to James Bay. This is the setting for the Joseph Boyden novels, Three Day Road and Through Black Spruce, as well as the traditional territories of the Moose Cree. The last leg of the journey here is by freighter canoe, helicopter or via the ice road in the winter. A week ago there were icebergs stuck on the sand bars in the river, but a patch of warm weather had melted them before I arrived.
The people here are very sweet and quite laid back compared to the fast pace of our cities. I am here as a consultant for the First Nations Market Housing Fund working with the MCFN on Housing and Human Resources. The Nation is planning for the future with big resource companies such as Detour and DeBeers vying for the young labour force and the MCFN negotiating to bring renewed prosperity to their people. It is very exciting to be here at this time – the new gold and diamond rush! Except this time the First Nations are working on behalf of their people to ensure that their lands aren’t polluted and that a healthy share of the prosperity stays with their people for generations to come.
Now that the project is underway, there are so many ways that through the generosity of all of you, we could make the dream of a healthy, holistic site for young Aboriginal families become the best example of an urban Village possible – perhaps a model for the rest of Canada.
What do we need?
* funds to purchase the site from the City so the the Victoria Native Friendship Centre will own the site rather than leasing it, providing security of tenure
* commercial equipment for the kitchen in the amenity room to teach cooking but also to feed people
* playground equipment that will spark the creative juices of our little ones
* exercise equipment to promote healthy lifestyles amongst the parents, grandparents and young adults
* up to date computers for those attending school in post secondary institutions such as Camosun College ( a major participant in the creation of Siem Lelum)
If you think you can help in any way, please visit the Victoria Native Friendship Centre website: www.vnfc.ca
I will be posting pictures as soon as the Construction manager is hired and the actual upgrades to the site begins.
Until next time………..
Canada has not had a National Housing program in Canada since 1995. With no new housing being built, with the exception of some Provincial programs the Homelessness issues have become more prevalent . Overcrowding on reserves is at a crisis level affecting the health and well being of our Aboriginal peoples. As mortgages expire, so do subsidies, so many non profits will have to sell off housing stock and new housing being built, such as Siem Lelum House in Victoria will have to run on a shoe string. Much of the problem is being downloaded on to Cities and Municipalities which don’t have the resources to take on the increased financial burden. Multiple proposals have to be written for every site to gather enough funds to proceed with Non Profits often competing with each other for scarce resources. We need a National Housing Program!
I have listed some web sites or given contact information for some of the organizations which are trying o come up with creative solutions to the Canadian Housing problem:
First nations Market Housing Fund: info@fnmhf.ca
Aboriginal Finance Officers Association: info@afoa.ca
Ready to Rent B.C.: www.readytorentbc.net
Canadian Housing and Renewal Association: www.chra-achru.ca/
B.C. Non Profit Housing Association: www.bcnpha.ca/
CMHC: www.cmhc.ca/
BC Housing: www.bchousing.org/
Aboriginal Housing Management Association: www.bchousing.org/
National Aboriginal Housing Association: www.aboriginalhousing.org/