First-of-its-kind Indigenous-led child care center opens in London, Ont.
The Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) held a soft opening Thursday for the new Indigenous-led Nshwaasnangong Child Care and Family Centre.
Members of the community and political dignitaries gathered for an emotional outdoor ceremony and were given a tour of the new facility located at 449 Hill St. in London.
Nshwaanangong, which means “place of the eighth star,” will feature space for 88 infants, toddlers and preschoolers in its licensed child care centre, and will be home to culturally relevant EarlyON programming rooted in Language and Spirit.
“In this space we hope to share regeneration healing, regeneration learning, regeneration love, with humility, truth, honesty, courage, love wisdom and respect,” said Emmaline Beauchamp, a Nshwaasnangong staff member.
Jan Martin, the director of Indigenous Relations for SOAHAC says the space will be enriched with language and culture.
“The design is an aboriginal design in the shape of a turtle…so the children are hugged and they feel mother earth -- so we kept everything indigenous.”
The centre is expected to welcome infants, toddlers and preschool-aged children in mid-October and is already at nearly 60 per cent capacity for registrations.
SOAHAC CEO Brian Dokis described the vision of the centre as a safe and welcoming place to help families reconnect with culture and heal from the longstanding traumas of colonialism.
“I think that it’s important that kids have access to culture, a lot of them in the city don’t have the same access as they do in the First Nations community for example, so this will be a place and home for them, especially the family resource center.”
The project was initiated after the City of London partnered with urban Indigenous organizations and community members to engage Indigenous families about experiences with child care and early years
“This center is so special and unique for Indigenous aboriginal children, Metis children and Inuit. That it’s a place to learn their language, to come together as a community and have a space to celebrate,” said Ward 12 Councillor Elizabeth Peloza.
A proposal to the Ministry of Education was successful in securing $5.9 million from the Ministry of Education and the Government of Canada to construct the new centre.
“We’re also taking action to ensure that families have access to safe and affordable child care -- Indigenous-led child care specifically, that’s why we are so proud to support the Nshwaasnangong Child Care and Family Centre, the opening of this sacred space in London,” said Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Minister of Education.
To learn more about Nshwaasnangong, visit www.nshwaasnangong.ca or follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Trump's lawyers grill ex-tabloid publisher as 1st week of hush money trial testimony nears a close
After prosecutors' lead witness painted a tawdry portrait of “catch-and-kill” tabloid schemes, defence lawyers in Donald Trump's criminal trial on Friday sought to dig into an account of the former publisher of the National Enquirer and his efforts to protect Trump from negative stories during the 2016 election.