REGINA — Regina-based Caring Hearts Counselling shared that it will be the recipient of significant federal funding to develop support for loved ones dealing with the trauma of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls.
Caring Hearts will be receiving $332,000 in federal funding over the next three years, backdated to begin in September of 2021, which the organization said will be used for a new program.
“The goal for this project is to develop a culturally grounded program that will educate non-Indigenous agencies on various topics,” said Caring Hearts in a social media announcement.
The program from Caring Hearts will include education and resources on dealing with intergenerational trauma, as well as offer direction on how to support families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls in healing.
It will also work to increase Indigenous partnerships and provide cultural perspectives. All of the program's elements will be based on cultural teachings, said Caring Hearts, paired with clinical knowledge on loss and grieving.
Caring Hearts director of education Dwayne Yasinowski thanked the federal government for the support, which he said is an important opportunity for the organization and the clients it will serve.
“The funding has provided Caring Hearts the ability to reach out to Elders from many different regions, who have willingly shared their knowledge, stories and traditional teachings with us to be used to build a 'tool kit' to grow the much needed supports for families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls," said Yasinowski.
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada David Lametti announced the funding allocation on Jan. 13, which will be provided through the Department of Justice’s Victim Fund.
The allocation is part of a larger promise of $37.68 million to support “culturally responsive, trauma-informed community based services for families of MMIWG.”
The funding has thus far provided support to 30 Indigenous-led projects that are providing community-based support, said the minister.
"We must continue to work to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, Two Spirit and LGBTQQIA+ people in Canada. This means supporting the families of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls on their path to healing from tragedy,” said Lametti.
