Family members of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls now have a new place to go for support.
Located in Saskatoon, Red Eagle Lodge promises legal consultations, mental health resources, and a culturally safe space to over 120 families through Family Information Liaison Units, and Executive Director Dorthea Swiftwolfe says they aim to support many more.
“This is a respite space just so our families have a place to find calm before court (or) after court. If they need to have ceremony, they can come here and smudge before court. If you just need a moment to gather yourself, gather your thoughts, that’s what Red Eagle lodge is here for,” Swiftwolfe assures.
She says when a family member goes missing, there are often legal or financial struggles that occur on top of the emotional trauma. That is why access to free legal support is crucial.
“If you have a missing loved one and they have children, there are custody issues. If the missing person owned a home, who continues to pay for that home? What about property tax? What about income tax?” she questions.
Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations Vice Chief Aly Bear says not only will you be able to access lawyers, Elders and therapists, but the lodge will also provide a space for people to gather.
“When a loved one is murdered, before court we gather, and after court we gather, but we are all just standing around outside the court room. This way (we can say) let’s go to the lodge, let’s order food, let’s debrief, let’s smudge,” Bear suggests.
Bear adds that the lodge’s services are federally funded and are currently free of charge for families seeking help. She hopes that one day Red Eagle Lodge will operate out of its own building, as infrastructure dollars are already being discussed with the federal government.
Swiftwolfe says there are no other facilities like Red eagle Lodge in Saskatoon. She adds that conducting cultural ceremonies is often difficult in an urban setting due to allergies, sprinklers, and ventilation systems, however Red Eagle Lodge allows for both pipe ceremonies and smudging.
Although the lodge and its services are still in their early stages, Swiftwolfe says eventually she hopes to partner with additional organizations such as the Traditional Parenting Program, Kids First, and The Indigenous Law Society, among others.
She advises anyone seeking support or a listening ear to contact her via the Red Eagle Lodge Facebook page or talk to her on site at 1120 20th Street West.
