Aboriginal women and children fleeing family violence in Stoney Nation now have a safe place to go again, after the reopening of the Eagle’s Nest Stoney Family Shelter.
“It feels wonderful,” said elder Tina Fox, who attended the reopening ceremony last week.
“I feel so relieved for the women.”
The shelter has been closed for the past two years due to renovations. As a result Bearspaw, Chiniki and Wesley women and families were referred to emergency and women’s shelters in Calgary.
“Family violence isn’t a good thing and it happens everywhere, not just in our community,” said Darcy Dixon, Bearspaw Chief.
“This is the right step for the future.”
The idea to build a shelter started long before the official inaugural opening in the early 90s, Fox explained at the ceremony, but the original board of directors ran into problems trying to convince the Alberta Government to fund the project.
“The Government was adamant it was not feasible to build a shelter on the reserve, they claimed the men would come and destroy it – none of our men have ever attacked this building,” Fox told the guests.
“I grew up in a home where I saw family violence and I am grateful for the shelter now.”
In 2014-2015, 68 First Nation women from Morley, 31 women from other reservations and 77 children utilized the Eagle’s Nest.
The re-opening started with a smudging ceremony and traditional songs and drumming to ask “the creator to help and protect the Eagle’s Nest.”
A staff member, with a background in counselling, said most of the children who initially come in with their mothers often access the shelter later in life with their own families.
“There is a lot of intergenerational trauma,” said the staff member who requested not to be identified due to privacy concerns.
One of the scariest moments the worker remembered was when a man from off the reservation tracked his wife to the shelter.
“He put chains through the doors and (hooked it up) to his truck and ripped the door off,” she said.
While the staff member said the job can be hard, there are stories of hope – including one of a pregnant woman who used the shelter to leave her abusive relationship. She later went on to obtain a master’s degree.
The primary focus of the Eagle’s Nest is for aboriginal women and children fleeing family violence. In addition to the emergency relief, the shelter also offers outreach, safety planning, advocacy, parenting support and specialized indigenous programs.
The five-bedroom building can accommodate up to five families, or four families and a room for singles with three to four beds in each room. The shelter also has a kitchen, a family room, a lounging area and offices for the staff.
“It is truly an amazing place,” said Jordie Mark, Chiniki councillor.
“Now the next task is to open a men’s shelter.”
The shelter officially started accepting women and children on May 8 with the crisis line and services also open on Monday.
The crisis line is 403-881-2000.
