Province commits $500,000 for women’s facility

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 06/12/2024 (281 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba government is committing $500,000 to fund a new safe space for Indigenous women, two-spirit and gender-diverse people at risk of harm and violence in Brandon.

“Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse folks, face some of the highest levels of gender-based violence, on a daily basis in our province, (and) are navigating a variety of different systems that make them (feel) unsafe,” Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine said during a news conference held to make the funding announcement in the Wheat City on Thursday morning.

The new facility, located in the 300 block of 10th Street in the city’s downtown will be called “Franny’s Place.” It is a two-storey house with 10 bedrooms, bathrooms, a shared kitchen, laundry facilities, living room and dining area. It will be run round-the-clock by two full-time staff members, who are either Indigenous or have knowledge of traditional teachings.

“It will be staffed by kokums and aunties who will offer culturally safe services and outreach support,” said Fontaine, who also holds the additional ministerial portfolios for accessibility and gender equity.

“Kokum,” which is Cree for grandmother, holds particular significance in indigenous culture. It is also symbolic of the positive influence of female elders in many First Nations.

“Franny’s Place will offer a safe space to sleep, a warm meal, community support, and provide the security, safety and peace needed to help women on their path to healing and recovery.”

The house will also focus on involving residents in activities, such as beading, cooking, baking, painting, gardening, playing bingo and woodworking.

Marla Huntinghawk, Franny’s Place case manager said her role will be to offer intake assessments, counseling, crisis management, and connecting women to resources.

“These ladies have experienced a lot of trauma, so we offer a listening ear,” said Huntinghawk. “We offer smudging and drumming and other activities to help get their mind off some of the things that they are going through. We give them a chance to rest and relax and just have a safe space.”

Franny’s Place has been named in memory of Francine Demas, an Indigenous woman who died at the age of 41, on Dec. 23. 2023. She was unhoused but was a strong advocate of others, and was liked by everyone she met, Franny’s mother, Priscilla Ireland told the Sun.

“I have mixed emotions, happiness, sadness, and I’ve shed some tears,” Ireland said as she stood in the dining room of the house. “But this is a blessing beyond measure, opening a house in my daughter’s name.”

“Sometimes we drive around downtown, and we see so many women her age. I think it’s going to help a lot of women escape if they’re in abusive relationships or displaced, to come and recover,” said Ireland.

Thursday’s funding announcement also happened to coincide with Demas’ younger sister — Chantille Demas’s birthday. Chantille said she wished the project could have happened a couple of years ago to help “the vulnerable women in Brandon – especially downtown.”

“It’s really an honour for the family to be acknowledged and recognized on behalf of Francine. We knew she was loved, but she had more of an impact on the community than we thought,” said Chantille, her voice thick with emotion.

Franny’s House will also be supported by a volunteer committee called, Keegawegeein, which means “I’ll Help You,” and is comprised of “wise Indigenous women from the community who provide support rooted in the Seven Sacred Teachings,” a news release from the Manitoba government stated.

The new safe space has also received support through partnerships with the Brandon Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation’s Action Research on Chronic Homelessness and the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF).

“The MMF’s Southwest Region is proud to partner with the Manitoba government to ensure that there are safe spaces for vulnerable members of our community,” said Will Goodon, Housing and Property Management Minister, Manitoba Métis Federation.

“The fact that this is a place where they can live in community, access the wisdom and support of other women, and obtain other services to help them rebuild their lives resonates strongly with the Red River Métis values and traditions that have made us strong,” Goodon said in the news release.

Sam van den Ham is the program manager for Franny’s Place, as well as another transitional house in Brandon called Chelsea’s House. The latter is named after an Indigenous homeless woman who died in February 2024.

There have never been any issues with individuals showing disrespect at any of the safe spaces, van den Ham said, and attributed that to residents feeling at “home.”

“When you walk into this space, it’s a home, and that’s something that they have lacked for a number of years,” said van den Ham.

“We don’t want people to feel like they are ignored, or that they can’t get resources, or that they burned bridges. People have bad days, people have offsets. We want to be able to give people that second chance, or the third chance or the fourth chance,” she said.

Franny’s Place is part of Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag, the Manitoba government’s new $20-million provincial strategy to support the safety, protection and empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender-diverse people.

Fontaine said she was impressed with Brandon, telling the Sun it is an “absolute joy,” to support the good work being done by women’s groups and agencies in the city.

“When you come to Brandon, you see a connectivity. Honestly, I don’t think there’s another place in Manitoba, where all of the folks that are on the front lines work together so well, it is incredible to witness. Everybody is connected in the work that they do.”

» mmcdougall@brandonsun.com

» X: @enviromichele