The province of Manitoba has committed approximately $8 million to construct a new 24/7 safe haven for Indigenous women and their children in Thompson, Manitoba. The upcoming Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Northern Lodge will feature 10 short-term private studio suites, a communal kitchen and living area, counseling and program spaces, laundry facilities, and a dedicated child-minding area equipped with Indigenous cultural teachings and play-based learning opportunities, as per a recent Friday news release.
Individuals residing at the lodge will have access to trauma-informed supports, cultural programs, parenting assistance, peer support, and connections to various services including housing, health, education, employment, and legal aid. Manitoba Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine expressed her excitement during a news conference in Winnipeg at the current Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Lodge’s Selkirk Avenue location, stating that the new facility in Thompson will be developed in collaboration with the Infinity Women Secretariat, a Manitoba Métis Federation affiliate, and the Ma-Mow-We-Tak Friendship Centre in Thompson.
Anita Campbell, a spokesperson for the Infinity Women Secretariat, expressed her enthusiasm for the safe space initiative in Thompson, highlighting the importance of the available programs at the adjacent friendship center. Fontaine emphasized that the project aims to provide transitional housing for Indigenous women and children facing violence, housing instability, or in need of support and connection.
Fontaine referred to the initiative as a “game changer” for safeguarding Indigenous women in the northern region, currently in the design phase with a goal of becoming operational within 18 to 24 months. This initiative is part of the NDP’s pre-election commitment to establish 24/7 centers in Winnipeg, Brandon, and Thompson. The Winnipeg site, scheduled to open between February and April, received $3.5 million in funding last year, while $500,000 was allocated for the Brandon site in 2024.
According to the province, Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit, and gender-diverse individuals in Thompson and surrounding areas face disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence due to geographic isolation, limited service accessibility, and inadequate housing. The new Thompson site aims to address the calls for justice outlined in the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls by offering culturally safe, trauma-informed support services.