An Indigenous child and family services group is opening a new facility for youth in Sudbury

Kina Gbezhgomi Child and Family Services, an Indigenous-led organization, is celebrating the opening of a new hub aimed at helping Indigenous youth currently in, or transitioning out of, foster care and child welfare. It hopes to offer guidance for them on how to live independently.

Kina Gbezhgomi provides services to children, youth, and families in seven member First Nations, as well as those residing off-reserve, and those living in Sudbury and on Manitoulin Island.

Enji-maajiigawat Mina-waadiziwin, which translates to "Starting a New Way of Life," will feature land-based cultural services, including a teepee, sweat lodge, gazebo, and garden. It will also have a fully functioning kitchen for life skills training and six bedrooms dedicated to youth. Located on Bancroft Drive in Sudbury, the transitional housing program will support youth aged 16 to 25.

The facility will offer inclusive traditional healing and well-being programs for families. In addition, it will host workshops, cultural events and gatherings, providing opportunities for youth to reconnect with their roots and learn from community elders and knowledge keepers. 

Denise Morrow, the executive director of Kina Gbezhgomi, says the project will provide land for consistent, accessible and equitable cultural services in Sudbury. it will also be addressing the housing crisis for youth in transition who need safe and supportive housing and outreach services.

"When we did our youth survey, our youth were advising us that there is a great need for safe and affordable housing. Many of them were homeless or in precarious housing situations," said Morrow.

She added that nearly 90 per cent of youth who have worked with the agency expressed a desire for more cultural programs and services like those at Enji-maajiigawat Mina-waadiziwin. This is because mainstream services often fail to address the unique needs of Indigenous youth, particularly those involved in the child welfare system.

"They've experienced the impacts of multi generational trauma, the impacts of colonialism, residential schools. Being in care of previous mainstream systems, [they've felt] disconnected at times with their extended family and community," said Morrow.

Katelyn Corbiere, a member of the youth advisory team, spent time with the Children's Aid Society until she was 10, and later experienced homelessness as a young adult. She describes her experience as "tumultuous" and "very unstable."

"Lack of connection, lack of identity, a lack of connection to culture. I think there was a big difference in the way that I was treated within an agency like that. An agency like this is more focused on our culture," said Corbiere, noting that some foster families didn't understand Indigenous practices and traditions.

"I developed prejudice and cultural shame at a young age toward who I was because of what I experienced. I think if I were with an Indigenous child welfare agency, that part of my story would have been different," said Corbiere.

She believes Enji-maajiigawat Mina-waadiziwin will help Indigenous youth avoid these negative experiences and know their culture better.

"You come to this facility, you have a teaching lodge and you have a connection to culture. You have your teachings everywhere. You have elders and residents. You have all this opportunity to grow, to heal and to walk that red road instead of navigating it all on your own without any support," said Corbiere.