Winnipeg, Traditional Treaty 1 Territory, Manitoba - Indigenous Services Canada and Women and Gender Equality Canada
Shelters provide protection, services and resources that enable women and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who have experienced gender-based violence, including intimate partner violence and exploitation, to have a safe space to turn and take steps to regain an independent and self-determined life.
Supporting Indigenous-led 24/7 safe spaces, emergency shelters, and transition homes is an important part of the Government of Canada's Federal Pathway to Address Violence Against Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People.
In Winnipeg, Velma's House, operated by Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc., was created through the collaboration of community-based organizations serving adult Indigenous women, gender-diverse people, and other women at risk of violence and exploitation, including those who have been trafficked.
Velma's House provides important services, including access to traditional medicines and cultural ways of healing, hot meals, hygiene and harm reduction supplies, as well as extensive support in helping those in need navigate systems of employment and housing. Due to an increase in operational hours and support, Velma's House has outgrown its old space and requires an expansion to accommodate more people in need of its services.
Today, the Government of Canada announced over $6.9 million in immediate and ongoing funding that will support Ka Ni Kanichihk and Velma's House, as well as $1.53 million for Indigenous women's organizations in Manitoba. The announcement was made in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg) by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth; and the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister for PrairiesCan, Minister for CanNor and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface-Saint Vital.
These investments will allow Velma's House to expand its capacity to provide life-saving shelter services to those in need on a 24/7 basis, and is part of the Government of Canada's larger commitment to address the critical need for culturally appropriate Indigenous safe spaces in cities and urban settings across the country.
These investments include:
- $930,000 through the Women's Program at Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) to provide emergency relief funding to support immediate organizational needs and increase capacity. This funding is in addition to over $1.4 million that WAGE has provided Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. since 2015.
- $2 million through Indigenous Services Canada's (ISC) Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund, which will enable Ka Ni Kanichihk to purchase a new building for Velma's House, allowing for expanded capacity and care of up to 40 people at a time.
- $1 million per year through to 2025-26, totalling $4 million, delivered through ISC's Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative to support operational expenses and furnishing costs.
Through Women and Gender Equality Canada, $1.53 million will be invested in three Indigenous women's organizations in Manitoba:
- $499,154 will support the work of Infinity Women Secretariat Inc. to increase the organization's capacity to address gender-based violence issues more effectively in the Métis community in Manitoba.
- $500,000 will support 2-Spirited Peoples of Manitoba to increase the capacity of 2Spirit Manitoba Inc. to prevent and address gender-based violence against Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
- An additional $533,118 for Ka Ni Kanichihk to strengthen their capacity to prevent gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people through the improvement of partnerships, sharing of information and the development of skill-based tools.
