Indigenous healing lodge gets green light in Scarborough neighbourhood

A healing lodge for Indigenous women who are dealing with the criminal justicesystemhasbeen approved for southwest Scarboroughamidobjections from some local residents

Scarborough'scommittee of adjustment voted unanimously in favour of the lodge at its hearing Thursday afternoon.

"We were all just elated," said Patti Pettigrew, president of the Thunder Women Healing Lodge Society.

These women "deserve to have a chance to heal," she said.

The 24-bed lodge would offer short-term housing and support for Indigenous women who are either before the justice system, orre-integrating into society afterincarceration, said Pettigrew.

A dozen womenwill have a structured, mandatory daily programthat includes trauma counselling, cultural teachingand healing circles, said Pettigrew.

They can then transition into 12 temporary apartments in the building.

Pettigrew said the lodge will address issueslikeintergenerational violence andteach life skills. There will also be asmall store at the facility where women can gain work experience.

Community concerns

The project has been a source of controversy in the area. Some residents have raised concerns about limited parking space andtraffic congestion; the building'sproximity to schools; safety and crime;depreciating property values and a perceived lack of consultation.

A public meeting in June drew more than 400 residents, said Coun.Gary Crawford. The original hearing date was pushed back a monthto allow for five smaller community discussions.

About 60 to 75 people both for and against the project showed up for the 90-minute hearing discussion on Thursday, said committee managerAndre Robichaud.

The meeting was "emotional," said Pettigrew, who says she wasgrateful to seesupporters of the lodge turn out.The committee also reviewed around 33 letters of support and 18 letters of objection.

In letters of opposition, residents were concerned that the lodge had only one proposed parking space and about potential congestion issues.

"The proposed location ... is in close proximity to an elementary school,"wrote resident K. Fedak. "It is not suitable for people who are in conflict with the law to be receiving treatment so close to ... children."

"Our neighbourhood is not developed yet to support a healing lodge," wroteJessica Riofrio."You will be ruining the reputation of our area and decreasing our property values."

Pettigrew said there are already peoplein the community who have been released fromincarceration, she said, but they are living without proper support.

The women in the lodge "will have the support they need so that they can transition into their community in a healthy way," she said.

The program is voluntary, she said, and potential candidatesbe assessed for their commitment and motivation.

The lodge will let women many of whom have had very difficult backgrounds restore their cultural identity, gain strength and "experience their true power as Indigenous women," Pettigrew said.

'Thinly veiled racism'

One of the biggest challenges for the lodge will be "explicit and thinly veiled racism and classism,"wroteresident Kristen Wallace in a letter of support.

"We need to welcome this project in and welcome these women back to their community. We have an absolute responsibility as settlers to be a part of reconciliation."

The lodge is planned for a vacant lotat the southwest corner of Cliffside Drive and Kingston Road. It's anideal part of the city, Pettigrewsaid, with ample social services,good transportation connections.

There's also a high number of Indigenous people in the area, Pettigrew noted, and it's close to the lake, which she says is important for Indigenous women.

Members of the public have 20 days after the approval to appeal the decision.

Despite opposition, Pettigrew said she is delighted with the amount of community support she's seen in the Cliffside areait confirms they made the right location choice, she said.

"We're going to be an asset to the community," she said. "At the end of the day, the community will be really proud of itself that they did accept us."

The project has been in the planning process for about two years, Pettigrew said, with a cost of $12 million. Pettigrew hopes to start construction by the spring.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women confirmed that Indigenous women need more supports within the wider community, she previously told CBC News.

Indigenous women are disproportionatelyrepresented in the criminal justice system, Pettigrew said, and current structures aren't working.

Pettigrew believes there will be a muchhigher success rate for women moving back into societyby working with Indigenous women and "having our own system."