“We have a chance to change the public perception on shelters.”

That belief was expressed Wednesday afternoon by Shadelle Chambers, the executive director of the Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN).

She was speaking at a news conference where it was announced the plan for a shelter for Indigenous women and children in Whistle Bend has made a significant advancement.

The territorial government, to formalize its commitment to the CYFN, has completed the transfer of land for the much-anticipated project.

The shelter will be located at 10 Eldorado Dr., at the corner of Casca Boulevard, in the blossoming subdivision.

The location reflects a recognition that women fleeing abusive behaviour don’t necessarily want to remain in the downtown core.

The choice is also based on the government’s land availability and the lot’s suitability in terms of zoning.

The land, with an estimated market value of $250,000, was transferred from the government to the CYFN for $1.

There is no mandatory community consultation required by the City of Whitehorse.

However, the CYFN is committed to ensuring the neighbourhood is kept informed of project developments, the government and CYFN said in a statement.

This will be the first Indigenous-led shelter in the Yukon.

The one-storey, wood-frame building will have 15 apartments (32 beds) and a total floor space of 15,069 square feet. It will include common dining and kitchen areas.

The building will be a temporary haven for homeless women or those fleeing abuse, dealing with mental health and addictions issues and those identifying as LGBTQ2S+ women. During their stay, they will be assisted with the difficult challenge of finding long-term housing.

The shelter will have high- and low-barrier areas that will safely meet the needs of women with children who require more supports, such as dealing with substance addiction issues.

The building tender will go out in January 2023, with occupancy aimed for the summer of 2024.

Efforts will be made to minimize construction noise and other disturbances during the evenings.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. (CMHC) is funding the project through its Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative, contributing about $10 million in capital funding. This is one of two projects in the North that were funded in the 2020 call for proposals.

Indigenous Services Canada will provide $1.22 million for annual operating costs for the planned shelter.

The CYFN will lead the construction and operation of the facility, and is working in collaboration with First Nations and other Yukon women’s shelters to ensure the project fits the community’s needs.

The shelter will provide vital services with culturally appropriate supports and programs.

The CYFN plans a staff of 17 people to operate the facility.

“Council of Yukon First Nations is appreciative of the commitment of land by the Government of Yukon that has facilitated the development of the Indigenous women and children’s shelter in Whistle Bend,” Grand Chief Peter Johnston said in the statement.

“We look forward to engaging in open communication with our new neighbours and the community on behalf of Yukon First Nations.

“Collectively, we will work to fulfill the vision of supporting Yukon First Nations women and children with safe temporary housing where they are supported and provided with programming,” Johnston said.

The devastating scourge of the residential school experience “for 150 years has caused a lot of disruption in our society,” the grand chief told the news conference, held in the CYFN building on Second Avenue.

“We are facing an extreme reality when it comes to violence. There are so many dynamics and complexities when it comes to violence,” Johnston said.

“This is our reality, and this is where we are at.”

Other shelters have barriers that affect women who have consumed alcohol or other substances, he noted, making the need for the planned new shelter even more urgent.

As for the long struggle to eradicate violence from society and reduce the need for such shelter, the grand chief said, “hopefully, we will be building more schools and less jails.”

Special touches to create a culturally appropriate facility “that will have a lot more appeal than just a box or a room,” the grand chief told the news conference.

The project will “help people make better choices for their families.

“What we have to do is help our people transition out of this reality (of domestic violence).”

The building design is reflective of First Nations. Food is at its centre, with space provided for preparing traditional meals, along with programming space.

Backdropped by a holistic approach, the cultural touches will embrace art as an example, Chambers said. As well, “I can envision fish and food being processed.”

Some Yukon Housing Corp. programs are available to assist with the project’s evolution.

“The development of this Indigenous women’s shelter is a testament to the strong partnerships and our collective commitment to offer a much-needed form of safe housing and supports for women and children in our community,” Ranj Pillai, the minister responsible for the corporation, said in the statement.

During the news conference, Pillai called the project “a much-needed facility; a hallmark project.

“It will address a critical gap in the current service delivery .... I am convinced the project will have a positive impact throughout the community.

“The more we work together, the more we can accomplish.”

Energy, Mines and Resources Minister John Streicker said in the statement the government is “honoured to play a role in the pre- development stage of the first Indigenous-led shelter in the Yukon.

“This project is an important step for providing community-centred services to Yukon First Nations women and children. Thank you to the Council of Yukon First Nations for their continued efforts to move this project forward.”

The Whistle Bend Community Garden Association holds a lease on the land, Streicker told reporters.

“When they heard we were looking for a lot for the shelter, they said, ‘we can move,’” he said.

“It talks to the generosity of the community to show suppport.”

The location is close to such amenities as a playground, walking trails and the planned new Whistle Bend school, he added.

As for the question of eliminating family violence in the long term, Streicker said, “we all unerstand how challenging that is, and this is an important step to that ... we know it is a long path, but we are committed to working together on it.”

Shelters exist in Whitehorse, Dawson City and Watson Lake, and there are safe houses in Ross River and Old Crow.

Many of those facilities are full, Chambers observed.

“We recognize the gaps in the services are quite large,” she said.

The project largely stems from the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened the vunerability of women and children, she added.

“This is a way to change the way shelter services are delivered.”