‘Our youth are our future’: Emergency safe home opens on Sask. First Nation

Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services has opened up a new emergency safe home on Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation designed to shelter its residents from abusive and traumatic circumstances.

The First Nation is located about 35 kms south of Battleford. Marlene Bugler, executive director of Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services explained that this safe house can provide a maximum of five kids emergency placement, and the basement suite can serve as a temporary shelter for people experiencing domestic abuse.

“We never know when children need to be placed somewhere. We have foster parents in the community but the homes are full, and we have emergency needs for placing more children. If we brought in a group of four or five kids, we would have to split them up and put them in different homes,” said Bugler.

“At least in this house, they can all come here all together and not be as scared as it’s not as traumatic for their life as being split apart and taken all over.”

Inside the new emergency safe home on Mosquito Grizzly Bear’s Head Lean Man First Nation. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW)

Bugler points out the federal government has been supportive throughout the process.

“We had the funding in place through our major funder, the federal government, they approved the plan.”

The total cost of the project was approximately $800,000.

She said the government recognized the importance of reconnecting foster care children with their community. Even if they have to leave their original family, they can remain within their circle, Bugler said.

According to Statistics Canada, there were over  24,000 children and youth (aged 17 years and younger) who were victims of police-reported family violence in 2022.

“This will provide a great sense of relief to them during one of the worst times of their lives,” said Celest Sanders, one of the community members.

“Our youth are our future. We’ve come from a dark place in history, and supporting our First Nation people by supporting their kids is the step towards reconciliation.”

Clients can be referred to the Emergency Safe Home through Kanaweyimik Child and Family Services.

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