The Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Executive is calling on the Provincial Government to start an immediate review, with a First Nations representative, of Regina’s Raising Hope Program. The Program is operated by the Street Workers Advocacy Project. The call comes after the death of a former resident. The FSIN says Marilyn Gordon was evicted from the women’s shelter approximately 4 months before her death and a number of staff were also terminated or resigned after a change in upper management of the program. The FSIN says this was the result of speaking out against what the FSIN calls, several injustices and changes.

The Federation says there was a loss in cultural program and trauma-informed practice and the environment to the program became very institutionalized. The Federation claims the women are often left without the basic needs and supports necessary for their healing journey and reported the home felt like a jail.

FSIN Chief Bobby Cameron says, “Our people need more First Nations ceremony, not less. The Province can’t sit by and do nothing, while more of our women go without the help and healing that they need.”