The Government of Canada pledges over $6.9 million in the ongoing funding practice to support Ka Ni Kanichihk and Velma’s House and $1.53 million for Indigenous women’s organisations in Manitoba.
The announcement was made in Treaty 1 Territory (Winnipeg) by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services; the Honourable Marci Ien, Minister for Women and Gender Equality and Youth; and the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, Minister for PrairiesCan, Minister for CanNor and Member of Parliament for Saint Boniface—Saint Vital.
These investments will, in the future, allow the Velma’s House to expand its capacity to provide life-saving shelter services to those in need on a 24/7 basis and is part of the Government of Canada’s larger commitment to address the critical need for culturally appropriate Indigenous safe spaces in cities and urban settings across the country.
These investments include:
$930,000 through the Women’s Program at Women and Gender Equality Canada (WAGE) to provide emergency relief funding to support immediate organisational needs and increase capacity. This funding is in addition to over $1.4 million that WAGE has provided Ka Ni Kanichihk Inc. since 2015.
$2 million through Indigenous Services Canada’s (ISC) Indigenous Community Infrastructure Fund will enable Ka Ni Kanichihk to purchase a new building for Velma’s House, allowing for expanded capacity and care of up to 40 people at a time.
$1 million annually through 2025–26, totaling $4 million, delivered through ISC’s Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative to support operational expenses and furnishing costs.
Through Women and Gender Equality Canada, $1.53 million will be invested in three Indigenous women’s organisations in Manitoba:
$499,154 will support the work of Infinity Women Secretariat Inc. to increase the organisation’s capacity to address gender-based violence issues more effectively in the Métis community in Manitoba.
$500,000 will support 2-Spirited Peoples of Manitoba to increase the capacity of 2Spirit Manitoba Inc. to prevent and address gender-based violence against Indigenous people.
An additional $533,118 for Ka Ni Kanichihk to strengthen their capacity to prevent gender-based violence against Indigenous women, girls and people through the improvement of partnerships, sharing of information and the development of skill-based tools.
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