Unique lodge to provide a safe, comfortable home for Indigenous elders in Alberta
After years of planning and building, a new Indigenous elders lodge is about to open near the Rocky Mountain community of Grande Cache, Alta.
"It feels good to be here," said Winston Delorme, surveying progress on the 17,200-square-foot Kikinow Elders Lodge.
"When we first got here there used to be a road up here and it was just bush," said Delorme. Now it's "almost a full, operating lodge here — for our people."
The idea for the lodge, located on the Victor Lake Co-operative, an Indigenous land holding on the north boundary of Grande Cache, 430 kilometres west of Edmonton, was first conceived in 2018 and construction got underway in 2023.
Applications are being accepted this month from Indigenous people in the area who want to live in the 14-bed facility.
Victor Lake is one of the six Indigenous co-operatives and enterprises in the Grande Cache area.
Delorme, a Victor Lake community leader, points to the building's half-moon design — with its teepee and fireplace at the heart of the lodge, smudge area, crafting room and community kitchen — as examples of what makes the $15-million dollar project unique.
Kikinow means "our home" in Cree and Delorme said the goal is to create a non-institutional place in the community where elders can age comfortably and safely.
"They get to come and go as they please. It's not a jail for them," he said.
"If they want to go to town, they go to town, if they want to go home for the night — back to their old home — that's up to them. That's the biggest thing is they're not kept."
Hilda Hallock, a 57-year-old Victor Lake community member, said she can see herself eventually living at the lodge.
Looking out the balcony of the space, Hallock sees the same mountain views that she's had all her life.
"I believe we are the land and the land is us," she said.
"This building will allow me to continue to live that life as I age, to maintain that connection and not be removed from it."
Hallock described the lodge as "warm and welcoming." Its windows and walls even include etchings of her grandma's flower beadwork pattern, she said.
It's a place that Hallock said will free her of life's "everyday stresses," like ensuring her pipes don't freeze and she has enough wood chopped to last the winter.
Funding for the project is coming from the federal and provincial governments, the Municipal District of Greenview and other municipal regional partners with help from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, said Shyam Menon, director of portfolio management with The Evergreens Foundation.
WATCH | Take a tour of the Kikinow Elders Lodge:
Tour a unique Indigenous elders lodge in northwestern Alberta
4 hours ago
Duration 3:04
Applications are being accepted for prospective residents of the Kikinow Elders Lodge, opening this summer near Grande Cache, Alta. Get a feel for Kikinow — Cree for 'our home' — and what it means to the community.
The not-for-profit management company will run the seniors living facility.
"This project is a unique partnership between a housing management body and an Indigenous organization," Menon said, "bringing much needed culturally appropriate housing and care to the elders in the region."
Staff with Scott Builders Inc. are continuing work on infrastructure, landscaping and the interior of Kikinow Elders Lodge with residents expected to move in later this summer.
Shirley Delorme, president of the Victor Lake Co-operative, said opening up applications for residents makes it feel real.
Delorme said she expects the lodge to be a special place for the whole community.
"I think we're going to have a lot of involvement with the younger generation," she said. "This is going to be a common place where they can come and learn from the elders."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Cision Canada
4 hours ago
- Cision Canada
Rouge National Urban Park Celebrates 10 Years Français
Milestone anniversary for Canada's first national urban park MARKHAM, ON, July 21, 2025 /CNW/ - Rouge National Urban Park, Canada's first national urban park and one of the largest protected urban parks in the world, offers easy access to residents of Canada's largest urban centre to explore a rich assembly of forests, creeks, farms and trails as well as marshland, a beach on Lake Ontario and human history spanning 10,000 years. Today, the Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park, on behalf of the Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages, celebrated this important milestone at an event honouring Indigenous partners, volunteers, farmers, advocates, and local stakeholders who have helped shape the vision of the park. The ceremony highlighted key achievements from the past decade, including major land assembly and legislation, the completion of the park's first management plan, the development of a multi-species action plan, the completion of 137 restoration projects with partners and collaborators, the addition of 23 km of new trails and a $21 million investment in the future visitor, learning and community centre. Since its establishment in 2015, Rouge National Urban Park has become a globally recognized model for conservation in an urban setting. Spanning over 79 square kilometres, an area 1.3 times larger than the city of Manhattan, the park protects a remarkable diversity of natural, cultural, and agricultural landscapes and continues to evolve through Indigenous leadership, community stewardship, restoration efforts, and collaboration across all levels of government. Parks Canada will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Rouge National Urban Park throughout 2025. Weekly features on the park's Facebook page will highlight key moments of its history, while on-site anniversary programming will offer visitors opportunities to reflect on the park's past, share their own stories, and contribute to a collective vision for the future of Canada's first national urban park. Quotes "Rouge National Urban Park demonstrates how strong conservation efforts and partnerships can restore ecosystems, strengthen climate resilience, and reconnect people with nature - and with each other -within their own communities. Its creation was made possible through decades of dedicated advocacy by community organizers and support from all levels of government. Today, this commitment to unity and collaboration continues to guide our government's approach to protecting what shapes our identity and makes us proud from coast to coast to coast. The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages "Rouge National Urban Park is both a cherished haven for residents and an emerging destination for visitors from across Canada and around the world. As the first of many national urban parks to come, the Rouge is setting the stage for a new era of urban tourism where conservation, recreation, and sustainability go hand in hand. With new trails, stronger community links, and a landmark visitor centre on the way, this park is not only protecting what we love about Canada, but also inviting more people than ever to discover it." The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree, Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for Scarborough—Guildwood—Rouge Park Quick Facts Rouge National Urban Park spans over 79 square kilometres in the GTA and is one of the largest urban parks in North America. The park is home to over 2,000 species of plants and animals, working farms, Indigenous heritage sites and some of the region's most important watersheds and wetlands. The park lies at the northern edge of the Carolinian Life Zone, a type of forest ecosystem that supports a rich diversity of life. Since 2015, more than 300,000 native trees, perennials, shrubs, and aquatic plants have been planted throughout Rouge National Urban Park. To date, Parks Canada and partners have completed 137 ecological restoration and farmland best management practices projects throughout Rouge National Urban Park. SOURCE Parks Canada (HQ)
CBC
a day ago
- CBC
I was a teenage mom. Now I'm a contestant for Miss Indigenous Canada
First Person Tamara Fontaine 'This pageant isn't about glamour. It's about healing, leadership and pride,' Tamara Fontaine writes Today, I am a contestant in Miss Indigenous Canada 2025. I'm representing not just myself, but my son, my ancestors and my community. Standing here is more than a title or a pageant. It's a full-circle moment, one I never imagined possible nine years ago. At 16, I became a single teenage mother. I was still in high school, overwhelmed, scared and unsure of what my future would look like. I grew up in poverty, surrounded by systems that didn't always support young Indigenous girls like me. I remember crying quietly in the bathroom during class breaks, wondering if I was ever going to get through it. I felt so much pressure to be strong, while still trying to figure out who I was. I've learned that my voice is a tool for change. - Tamara Fontaine But even then, I knew I wanted to give my son, Noah, a better life. He was always my anchor. He became the reason I kept going when things got hard. I returned to school and pushed through late nights, grief and moments of deep self-doubt. It wasn't easy. I faced judgment and stigma for being a teen mom, especially as an Indigenous woman. There were times when I felt invisible and forgotten, but I kept showing up for him, and for myself. What helped me most along the way was reconnecting with my culture and finding the right support systems. I joined Wahbung Abinoonjiiag, a community-based organization that supports families and survivors of domestic and family violence. At the time, I was navigating my own experiences with unhealthy and unsafe relationships. I didn't always have the words for what I had gone through, but Wahbung gave me a space to feel seen, to begin healing and to reconnect with who I was outside of survival. There was also a women's empowerment program I joined while I was there, which became a turning point in my journey. It focused on building confidence, reclaiming our voices and recognizing our worth as Indigenous women. Through workshops, teachings and sisterhood, I began to feel stronger not just emotionally but spiritually and culturally. It helped me shift from surviving to thriving. Through ceremony, cultural teachings and that empowering community, I began to understand that healing wasn't just possible, it was mine to claim. Taking Charge (a provincially funded support service for single parents) became another turning point in my journey. They helped me get into the University of Manitoba and provided child care so I could focus on my education while still being there for my son. I started out in the faculty of arts, unsure which direction I wanted to go. Over time, through my lived experiences and my growing involvement in community work, I realized that my heart was being pulled toward social work. I wanted to help others the way others had helped me, so I switched faculties and was accepted into the inner-city social work program, where I am now in my second year. This program feels like home. I'm surrounded by people who understand the importance of decolonizing systems, advocating for our people and using our stories as medicine. I've learned that my voice is a tool for change, and my story is one of survival and transformation. The grief of losing loved ones has also shaped who I've become. I carry their memories with me — especially my late family members from Sagkeeng First Nation, whom I will honour during the cultural presentation of this pageant. I'll be dancing the old style jingle dress dance, a dance of healing, with their urns and photos beside me. This isn't just a performance. It's a ceremony. It's my way of saying: I remember you. I carry you. And I'm still dancing. I carry my ancestors in my heart, my son on my shoulders and my community in every step I take. - Tamara Fontaine Deciding to apply for Miss Indigenous Canada was both exciting and terrifying. I didn't grow up seeing people like me in spaces like this, but I realized that's exactly why I needed to step into it. This pageant isn't about glamour. It's about healing, leadership and pride. It's a chance to tell our stories on a national stage, to inspire our youth and to reclaim our voices. When I found out I had been accepted as a contestant, I cried. It felt like a quiet victory for every younger version of myself who thought she wasn't good enough. I thought about my son and how he'll be watching me from the audience, and I knew I made the right decision. I want him to see what it means to walk in pride, to stand in ceremony and to carry your ancestors with you every step of the way. To the teenage moms who might be reading this or hearing me on the radio: I see you. I know how heavy the world can feel when it's telling you that you won't make it. But you will. Your story is not over. You are raising the next generation with love, and that alone is powerful. Your child is not a setback. They are your strength, your reason, your fire. Being a contestant in Miss Indigenous Canada isn't just about a title. It's a reflection of every hardship I've faced, every community that held me up and every lesson I've learned about resilience, motherhood and identity. I carry my ancestors in my heart, my son on my shoulders and my community in every step I take.
Vancouver Sun
3 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. coal mining operation seeks green light to expand as investigation into polluted water continues
A coal mine in southeastern B.C. is seeking to expand operations as an investigation is underway into cross-border water pollution from mining in the area. Glencore-owned Elk Valley Resources, which operates four steelmaking coal mines in the Elk Valley, has renewed a proposal to extend Fording River operations for another 35 years. The company is also proposing to expand operations by mining in a new area south of the existing mine. The coal mine is about 15 kilometres northeast from Elkford. Although the coal is for making steel — not burned for energy — critics argue the process still releases a large amount of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change, and that toxic levels of minerals continue to contaminate rivers. Stay on top of the latest real estate news and home design trends. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Westcoast Homes will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Last year, B.C. agreed to the International Joint Commission investigation into water pollution in the Elk-Kootenay watershed. The agreement involves both federal governments, along with B.C., the states of Montana and Idaho, and six Indigenous communities. The pollution, which was confirmed by the U.S. geological survey last year, comes from metallurgical coal mines in B.C.'s Elk Valley, where waste rock is causing selenium and other pollutants such as nitrates, nickel and calcite to leach into rivers. While rarely harmful to humans, selenium and calcite can damage fish populations by lowering reproductive success. Casey Brennan, conservation director for Wildsight, said Elk Valley Resources has been successful in bringing down the levels of selenium, but they remain above B.C.'s threshold for aquatic health in some areas. 'We believe there should be no new mining permitted until water contamination has been adequately addressed and long term solutions and environmental liability securities are in place,' said Brennan. He said calcite is a mounting concern. 'The creek bed looks like it is covered in concrete. It's like a white, solid kind of crust on the bottom of the creek, which has a terrible impact on fish habitat. So we are very concerned and we're not really getting any clear answers.' An earlier draft of the extension for Fording, then owned by Teck Coal, was rejected by the Ktunaxa Nations over those pollution concerns. In its 2022 submission, Ktunaxa wrote that members believed there was sufficient evidence the project would cause 'extraordinarily adverse effects.' Ktunaxa did not respond to a message by deadline. A year before, Teck was fined $60 million for damaging waterways in the Elk Valley — the largest fine issued for Fisheries Act offences. In 2023, it was fined again for $16 million. Since then, EVR has been in talks with the Ktunaxa and the Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi 'it nations to reduce the project's environmental footprint, EVR said in a statement Thursday. This includes reducing disturbances to habitat and bringing in new water quality measures. The statement said EVR has made significant progress implementing the Elk Valley Water Quality Plan , a long-term plan to reduce selenium and improve the health of the watershed, while allowing for continued mining. 'We have constructed four water treatment facilities at our operations with capacity to treat 77.5 million litres of water per day, which are removing between 95 per cent and 99 per cent of selenium from treated water,' EVR said, adding three more treatment facilities are planned. A decision on whether to proceed with an environmental assessment of the project will be made after the commission wraps up its investigation, with recommendations expected in the fall of 2026. The rivers affected by mining flow through Sparwood and Fernie, into Lake Koocanusa on the U.S.-Canadian border, through Montana and Idaho, then back into B.C., past Creston and into Kootenay Lake. On a recent hike in Elk Valley, Brennan was overwhelmed by the idea of B.C. potentially expanding coal mining. 'They would use explosives to blow up the mountain…it blackens and flattens, creating a vegetation-free landscape,' he said. 'It really hits home, you know, hits me in my chest, just how much will be lost. There's going to be less sheep.' The Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep are a blue-listed species in B.C. that are vulnerable to human activities but not yet classified as endangered. In 2023, B.C.'s Environmental Assessment Office issued a decision requiring then owner Teck to revise the proposal to address concerns from the Ktunaxa and Yaq̓it ʔa·knuqⱡi'it nations. The B.C. Environment Ministry said in an email this week that the province is 'fully supportive of the International Joint Commission process and is actively participating in a two-year study focused on water quality' in the watershed. EVR also stated it is ' committed to participating' in the investigation. B.C. aims to be carbon neutral by 2050 but the steelmaking coal industry contributes to global GHG emissions. Emissions from the burning of coal to make steel aren't counted in B.C.'s totals because the majority of coal is shipped to China. There are lower-carbon methods to make steel, such as using hydrogen, but it's cheaper to use coal, said Brennan, adding B.C. needs to start having a discussion about phasing out steelmaking coal mines. Meantime, Glencore has made Investment Canada Act commitments to conserve or rehabilitate at least three hectares for every one hectare affected by its mining activities. But a plan for this hasn't been made public. Another concern for Wildsight is the inadequate bonding that B.C. requires of EVR. There have been recent increases to the bonding amount but according to an independent report from last year, there remains a significant shortfall of billions of dollars of environmental liability that would fall to the public when these mines close. The EAO said in an emailed statement that if the project advances to an environmental assessment, the office will examine all potential impacts, including water quality. B.C.'s coal industry has an economic output of more than $2.7 billion, with a labour income of $785 million, according to the B.C. Mining Association. ticrawford@ With files from The Canadian Press
