Enaahtig
UPDATES AND NEWS
Snow Sculpture Photo Contest
In celebration of the winter season (and an abundance of snow!) we are running a snow sculpture challenge through the month of February! Build a snow person, animal, or object and submit a photo for your chance to win an Enaahtig Swag Bag. There will be additional prizes for 2nd and 3rd place entries.
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Photos are to be submitted to Patti Benson (yww2@enaahtig.ca) with the subject line “Snow Sculpture Challenge” and a completed photo waiver you can download below:
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Submissions will be collected from now until February 28th.
The winner will be announced March 1st by 4PM.
Indigenous Peoples Court Survey
Statement on behalf of Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre: A Call for Healing
In response to the recent uncovering of the unmarked graves of Indigenous children in discovery across Canada, the following has been prepared on behalf of Enaahtig Healing Lodge and Learning Centre:
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The stories of missing Indigenous children who never made it home from residential school have been recounted by Indigenous survivors for many years. The use of ground search devices to identify the locations of these children finally validates what Indigenous Elders, seniors and survivors of the residential school era have shared all along. The abuse, degradation and misguided assimilation that occurred at the residential schools is a dark stain on Canada’s history. The effects of intergenerational trauma from these colonial institutions continue today.
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The recent press coverage and public outrage with respect to these lost Indigenous children has prompted a number of concerned citizens to contact Enaahtig with their shock and disbelief that these atrocities occurred unbeknownst to them. They ask how could they not have known what happened in our own recent history, and I agree “How Could You Not Have Known?” How did you not know; about the public apology in the House of Commons from then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper (see attachment)? For over a decade the Aboriginal Healing Foundation has openly and publicly spoken about their work with survivors of residential schools which led to the ongoing work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Commission, was formed to investigate the devastating legacy of forced assimilation and abuses of residential schools, held hearings from 2008 to 2014 and heard the stories of thousands of residential school survivors. In June 2015, this commission released a report based on these hearing that listed 94 Calls to Action focused on reconciliation. All in response to the legacy of the residential schools, how did you not know.
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Enaahtig does not seek to assign guilt or blame to those of you who are just hearing of the historical suffering and abuse of Indigenous children at the hands of the churches and government or remained unaware of this important work being done. We do however expect that you will educate yourself on what occurred during 150 years of the residential school era.
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Enaahtig speaks as a provincial healing lodge established in 1996 to address the complex issues experienced by Indigenous communities. These include family violence; alcohol and substance use; poor mental and physical health to name a few. As our work continues to identify the social determinants of these ongoing issues, we can confirm that much relates directly to the legacy of the residential school era. The intergenerational impacts of these schools have not decreased over time and the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual abuse that children suffered at the hands of the Church and Canadian government remains dominant and visible today.
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Enaahtig continues to work tirelessly beside a number of sister healing lodges and treatment centers across the province to address the ongoing healing needs of our children, youth and their families through a trauma-centered and focused approach to healing. To learn more about the work that has been undertaken by healing lodges in Ontario or Enaahtig specifically, please visit our website: enaahtig.ca or the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services web page and search “Indigenous Healing and Wellness Strategy.”
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As an essential service, Enaahtig has operated throughout the COVID-19 pandemic by modifying our programs and services as per health directives. We are hopeful however, that we will soon be able to host outdoor ceremonies and events to promote the knowledge and healing so desperately needed at this time. Enaahtig is in the planning stages of hosting an outdoor event in early fall “A Call for Healing” ,due to COVID-19 restrictions, we anticipate that this will be by invitation only and will include ceremony, knowledge sharing and to celebrate 25 years of Enaahtig’s healing work.
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Enaahtig will be sharing more information on this upcoming event on our web page and social media. We look forward to being able to gather, heal and celebrate together.
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Miigwetch/ Ny;weh
Nena La Caille
Executive Director
The apology was offered in 2008 on your behalf, as a non-Indigenous citizen of Canada.
“… on behalf of the government of Canada and all Canadians, I stand before you, in this chamber so central to our life as a country, to apologize to aboriginal peoples for Canada's role in the Indian residential schools’ system.
To the approximately 80,000 living former students, and all family members and communities, the government of Canada now recognizes that it was wrong to forcibly remove children from their homes and we apologize for having done this.
We now recognize that it was wrong to separate children from rich and vibrant cultures and traditions, that it created a void in many lives and communities, and we apologize for having done this.
We now recognize that, in separating children from their families, we undermined the ability of many to adequately parent their own children and sowed the seeds for generations to follow, and we apologize for having done this.
We now recognize that, far too often, these institutions gave rise to abuse or neglect and were inadequately controlled, and we apologize for failing to protect you.
Not only did you suffer these abuses as children, but as you became parents, you were powerless to protect your own children from suffering the same experience, and for this we are sorry.
The burden of this experience has been on your shoulders for far too long.
The burden is properly ours as a government, and as a country.”
COVID-19 UPDATES
Urban Indigenous adults are now able to book their 2nd dose of their vaccines under the 21 day dose interval (previously 16 week interval). Please see attached for a summary of the new messaging around the 21 day dose interval for urban Indigenous adults for Dose 2 of COVID-19 vaccines.
The first clinic with available appointments is this Saturday May 15 in Barrie at 29 Sperling Drive.
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All of the options for booking can be found at https://outlook.office365.com/owa/calendar/SMDHUCOVIDSecondDoseBooking@smdhu.org/bookings/ or https://mamaway.ca/mamaway/covid-19-information/ NOTE: You must select the clinic date at the top AND ensure you’ve selected the same date on the calendar to see all the available times. Otherwise, you may see no appointment times.
If you have had more than 21 days since your first dose because you were originally waiting for the 16 week appointment, you can book a new appointment for a soon as possible and then cancel their old one. As long as it’s been a minimum of 21 days between doses, you are able to get your second dose if you are 16 years of age or older, identify as Indigenous or are a non-Indigenous adult living in the same household as an Indigenous adult who received the vaccine. Just like the first dose appointments, ID will be requested at the second dose appointments.
Providing opportunities for holistic healing and learning based on the principals of Indigenous culture, to individuals and families in a safe environment in order to foster healthy, balanced communities and nations.
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When and where are the clinics taking place?
May 15 10am-6pm
29 Sperling Dr, Barrie
This clinic is being offered by RVH. Appointments are open to Indigenous adults as well as open to other eligible adults in other eligibility groups.
May 18 10am-5pm
Holly Recreation Centre, 171 Mapleton Ave Barrie
This clinic is an Indigenous community clinic originally for Dose 1 only. Appointment slots are now open for Dose 2 for eligible Indigenous adults and non-Indigenous household members.
June 15 10am-5pm
Holly Recreation Centre, 171 Mapleton Ave Barrie
This clinic is mass immunization clinic offered by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit. Appointments are open to Indigenous adults as well as open to other eligible adults in other eligibility groups.
May 25 10am-5pm
Rotary Place, 100 University Ave Orillia
New Indigenous community clinic.
May 21 10am-5pm
North Simcoe Rec Centre, 526 Len Self Blvd, Midland
New Indigenous community clinic.
May 28 10am-5pm
North Simcoe Rec Centre, 526 Len Self Blvd, Midland
New Indigenous community clinic.
The following clinics are mass immunization clinics with added capacity for Indigenous Dose 2 appointment booking.
Muskoka: May 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29
South Georgian Bay: May 24, 25, 27, 29, 30
South Simcoe: May 22, 23, 27, 29
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How can I book into the clinics?
Booking links will be distributed to everyone who has had a first dose by email. As soon as the links are available, they will also be posted to the www.mamaway.ca website and distribute to the Indigenous service organizations.
Individuals who need extra support with booking can call a vaccine coordinator:
705-818-0575 (9am to 5pm Mon - Fri)
705-790-9863 (11am to 6pm Wed - Fri)
705- 790-9986 (11am to 6pm Tue – Sat)
If your organization has capacity, it would be great if you could use your phones and the booking links to book members directly into their appointments.
What do I need to bring for the clinics?
Just like the Dose 1 clinics, we will be asking for ID confirming Indigenous ancestry at the Dose 2 clinics. Asking for ID will help ensure that vaccines are available to Indigenous adults and their non-Indigenous household members.
People can use the same ID they used at their Dose 1 clinic. If they used a letter at their Dose 1 appointment, they can use the same letter if they still have it. If they no longer have the letter, please support them by writing a replacement letter using the same template.
What if I got my first vaccine under a different eligibility criteria but I identify as Indigenous?
Example: Someone got their first dose because they qualified under the “healthcare providers” and were instructed to return at 16 weeks for Dose 2. The person also identifies as Indigenous and is now eligible to get Dose 2 at 21 days.
You can still get your 2nd dose if you identify as Indigenous or are a non-Indigenous adult living in a house with an Indigenous adult who received the vaccine. You will need to bring ID or attend with the Indigenous adult in your household for Dose 2 appointment.
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What if it’s been more than 21 days since my Dose 1 appointment?
Sign up for your Dose 2 appointment as soon as you can. You will still be able to get your 2nd dose even if it’s been more than 21 days.