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
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.