March 6, 2020
By Jordan Cryderman
After years of hard work and dedication, the CSFS Safe House, in partnership with Lake Babine Nation, proudly opened its doors to help families in need. As of March 1, 2020, Indigenous women and children in Northern BC who are affected by family violence can access these services.
The Safe House is located within the urban limits of Burns Lake, and strategically situated at the center of the Highway 16 corridor, or more notoriously known as the Highway of Tears.
The goal is to provide culturally-specific services that many say are sorely lacking in the region. The location is also in close proximity to basic services and amenities, such as the hospital and schools.
Corrina Leween, CSFS Board of Director Chief, said during the planning phase of the Safe House that “it is important for us to provide safe spaces for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Leween said that “supports will be made available for the empowerment of women, along with a plan to create a wellness strategy for the family and Nation. Our objective is to provide a roadmap for individuals escaping family violence to rebuild their lives.”
The Safe House offers culturally-appropriate services with a holistic wellness approach. Services will blend evidence-based practices with traditional healing.
Cindy Adam, Safe House Supervisor, says that practicing traditions and culture at the Safe House will help the healing that takes place at the facility.
“Being able to have people access traditional healing methods, access their culture and traditions, those are all forms of healing. Access to elders and knowledge holders is going to be extremely empowering. Culture is healing.”
Security is a top priority at the Safe House to ensure safety for all of its guests. The house is surrounded with fences, a secured gate entrance, and video cameras around the perimeter. The house address and phone number will remain unlisted to remain inconspicuous. All staff will be trained to uphold security measures and protocols.
To access the Safe House, there is a referral procedure, which you can find more about at any of our CSFS offices.
If you have any more questions, feel free to email the Safe House inbox at dzeeda’yugh@csfs.org, which is monitored daily.
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Last modified: Wednesday 03-Apr-24 12:36:29 PDT
CSFS gratefully acknowledges Noeleen McQuary, the artisan who created the traditional Carrier baskets used in the CSFS branding on this webpage, and in other print and online media.
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