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Wednesday, June 5, 2013
TEKAWENNAKE
Problem becomes opportunity for Gayenawahsra By Stephanie Dearing OHSWEKEN Gayenawahsra is “a place to practice being a healthy community,” said counsellor Carol Henhawk. The nextstep supportive housing helps Six Nations members build a violence-free life by providing on-site programming and counselling for adults and children. Thanks to a $140,000 addition, the job of providing those vital services to Gayenawahsra residents is now a little easier. With the work on the addition now finished, staff took time out from moving in to their new facility to celebrate the addition, which was made possible through funding provided by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). That addition was celebrated with a special prayer and a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday morning, before staff and board directors of Ganohkwasra Family Assault Support Services, as well as some community members got a chance to see the newly completed offices and extra space created to facilitate
group programming. “I can't believe we managed for all these years with this,” said Carol Henhawk, a counsellor who has worked at Gayenawahsra for five years, showing Tekawennake the two offices that counsellors have had to make do with over the years in the basement. Now there are four offices, expanded programming space and two kitchens, and even a balcony, all built by contractor Mark Jamieson based on a design by architect Brian Porter. The addition was a classic situation of a problem that became an opportunity. “We had a water issue,” said Henhawk, explaining the existing facility experienced flooding on a periodic basis. The worst flood, she said, saw the facility swamped under two feet of water several years ago. Sandy Montour, Executive Director of Ganohkwasra, had to fight back tears as she remembered the opening of Gayenawahsra in 1994, and the presence of Wilma General, the woman who was the motivating force behind the
founding of Ganohkwasra. Shirley Farmer, a surviving sister of Wilma, was at the ribbon cutting ceremony. “It touches my heart that Shirley Farmer is here,” said Montour. Dave Williams, a Faithkeeper, provided not only the traditional Thanksgiving Address, but also said a special prayer for the newly expanded facility in the Cayuga language. When he was finished, he explained he had asked the Four Beings to ensure the staff working at Gayenawahsra, as well as the families living there “have good well being and good luck while they're here.” “May this place be a healing place,” said Sandy Montour. “May it continue to be a healing place.”
Shirley Farmer (right) cut the ribbon for the grand opening of the new addition for staff and programming at Gayenawahsra, the Six Nations next-step housing program. Shirley was assisted by Linda Staats. (Photograph by Stephanie Dearing).
Six Nations Police Briefs Staff Driver injured after vehicle hits tree An unidentified male driver was taken to hospital with a broken leg and other minor injuries after the vehicle he was driving hit a tree at Sixth Line and Onondaga Road. The collision happened on Monday June 3, and police were dispatched around 9:30 pm. Responding officers found a white 2005 Chevrolet pickup truck with severe front-end damage on the scene. There were other occupants in the truck, but they did not need medical attention, said a brief issued by Six Nations Police. Police said it appeared the truck was travelling southbound on Onondaga Road when the driver lost control of the vehicle. The collision is still under investigation. Intoxicated man arrested An attempted break-in at a Moccasin Trail residence during the wee hours of Monday morning resulted in the arrest of an intoxicated man. Police
report they received a call for assistance at 3:30 in the morning on June 3, 2013 after the homeowner heard noises near his home. The homeowner got up to look around and found a young man lying on the ground next to a basement window. The young man ran away, headed towards Bicentennial Trail. Meanwhile, the investigating officers were told by a neighbour the same young man had entered her home through a kitchen window, and ran away. The male was described as intoxicated, said police. The young man was picked up by officers patrolling the area, found walking through the parking lot of the Medical Centre. Police say he was intoxicated and had a bottle of whiskey in his possession. The caller identified the young man as the person he had found trying to get into his home. Travis Dex Thomas, who is 18 years old, was arrested and charged with being intoxicated in a public place. Continued on page 7
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