top of page

ABOUT US

NIITOIYIS LOGO - PNG - BLACK - COLOR.png

Our Vision

Nurturing families and individuals on their healing journey.

Our Mission

To provide a broad continuum of family supports, guided by Indigenous traditional teachings to promote prevention, intervention and healing to anyone seeking safety, wellness and cultural connection. 

Values

The Seven Sacred Teachings : Love, Truth, Humility, Honesty, Respect, Wisdom, Bravery (Courage)

Inclusivity

Collaboration

Empowerment

Protection and support against family violence and all form of abuse.  Niitoiyis Family Support Society (formerly Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society) is a 32-bed, full service emergency shelter that provides services to women and children from all cultures.

 

Our shelter operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are on-site and on-call Wellness Workers that operate 24 hours a day. Women and children stay at the shelter for a period of up to three weeks. If shelter is required beyond that period, clients may arrange for an extended stay or are referred to other agencies. Niitoiyis Family Support Society supports clients with the resources to help ensure they do not return to an abusive situation.

 

Appropriately named “Niitoiyis”, which has been defined to us by Elders as  “Safe home/real home” in the Blackfoot language, the shelter is blanketed in a unique atmosphere where the traditional wholistic and spiritual teachings of the Indigenous people’s Medicine Wheel are practiced.

 

Niitoiyis Family Support Society is dedicated to supporting the emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual healing and wellbeing of women during their time of crisis and beyond. The shelter offers a full range of in-house crisis and outreach crisis, healing, and prevention programs. There is also a children’s program to ensure each child’s emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual healing and wellbeing are supported as well.

 

Niitoiyis Family Support Society is A Women's Emergency Shelter in Calgary, Alberta

OUR HISTORY

A wholistic approach to healing and wellness.

The history of Niitoiyis family Support Society (formerly known as Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society) began with a vision in 1986 with the determination to create a safe place of healing where Indigenous women and children could seek refuge from family violence and all forms of abuse in a uniquely Indigenous atmosphere. The shelter’s mission would be to provide a traditional wholistic and spiritual approach to help Indigenous women and their children through the healing process with the support of their community.

 

This approach included practicing the teachings of the Indigenous Medicine Wheel, participating in ceremonies such as smudging and healing circles, and receiving Elder counselling and support. The shelter would be a place where Indigenous women could reconnect with their Indigenous culture and continue their healing journey after leaving the shelter.

​

Gerri Many Fingers was instrumental in leading the committee in finding a suitable location for the shelter and for raising the capital needed to build the shelter. Operating costs were covered by the government and through funds raised from a home lottery. Nelson Gutnick was a special advisor to the committee, providing mentorship to the committee and assisting in the shelter’s development. Other members of the committee included:

 

Marlyne Fraser King
Denis Whitford
Bob Coultier
Joanne Crook
Rachael Hoof Sr.
Rachael Hoof Jr.
Pat Whitney
Elder Annie Bare Shin Bone

 

During 1993 and 1994, the founders, board of directors, staff and many volunteers from the shelter created a crisis counseling training program that contained a significant amount of Indigenous content. This program was designed to train shelter staff, Calgary agency staff and the public. During this time, the group also launched the Calgary Head Start program, which was sponsored by Health and Welfare Canada.

 

On March 10, 1993, an interim shelter was opened in an old apartment building donated by the City of Calgary. The Alberta government provided core operational funding, while the Home Lottery raised capital costs.

 

Two short years later, the Awo Taan Native Women’s Shelter Society moved to its current location in 1995. In its first decade of operations, the shelter went through many changes, including a name change, evolving visions and missions, and the evolution and expansion of many programs. All of these changes have been positive and progressive in that they have enabled the shelter to provide more comprehensive services and programs to Indigenous women and children, and to women and children from other cultures, who suffer from family violence and abuse, and to help them through the healing process with the support of their community.

​

The New Name 2024:

​

The name “Niitoiyis” was given to us by the Elders Council and they have defined it to be real home, safe home. This name is a reflection of safety, of welcome and inclusivity.  In June of 2024 traditional ceremony held in the backyard of “Niitoiyis” in our new tipi, with Elders representing all of treaty 7, Niitoiyis staff, shelter residents, board members and community guests.  As we begin this new Chapter as “Niitoiyis” we welcome and acknowledge our growth into an organization that is more than a Women’s shelter but a safe and real place of welcome, belonging, and support for women, men, children, youth, Elders, 2SLGBTQIA+, a place of healing and empowerment

Victoria Sedgwick

President

Victoria Sedgwick, President of VJS Coaching & Consulting provides clients with an effective combination of Indigenous community and corporate expertise.

 

Victoria has over 36 years of experience specializing in Indigenous engagement, supporting inclusive work environments and community and individual capacity development.  Victoria is a recipient of the Senator Thelma Chalifoux award for supporting Aboriginal Education, to recognize the many years of work she has done to support our youth in furthering their education.

 

Victoria has a very personal connection to the Indigenous community and is a very proud mother of two and grandmother of four precious grandbabies.

 

It’s hard to see where Victoria’s work and personal life start and end as she keeps busy connecting with the community, offering her experience and guidance as a current member of the Canadian Foundation of Aboriginal Relations (CFAR); the Aboriginal Opportunities Committee of the Calgary Chamber of Commerce; member of the Indigenous Advisory Committee supporting Careers: The Next Generation and a long term Senior Associate with the Indian Events Committee - Calgary Stampede.  Victoria is currently the President of the Board and Chair of the Personnel Committee for Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society – Emergency Women’s Shelter.

Teri Matula has been a Board member since 2007 and brings over 20 years of project management and business consulting experience to Awo Taan in her roles as Treasurer and Chair of the Governance Committee. Her connection to aboriginal community is through her Metis roots, as a descendant from the Papaschase Band near Edmonton.

 

She has grown up seeing and experiencing many of the issues that face the Indigenous community, and is committed to lending her time and skills to help those dealing with

Indigenous women's rights and issues.

Teri
Matula

Treasurer

Colleen Waskewitch Runner

Vice-President

As a Tsuut’ina Nation member, Colleen Waskewitch Runner brings a wealth of valuable experience and leadership to her role as Vice President of the Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society board of directors.

 

Colleen is a Guest Services Manager at the Grey Eagle Resort and Casino since May 2014 up to present. Her many executive roles on the Tsuut’ina Nation include leading the negotiations for the newly formed Tsuut’ina Police Force’s Tripartite Agreement. She plays a key role in the communication, promotion and representation of the Tsuut’ina People’s Culture and Traditions, while educating others on the Treaty 7 First Nation People.

 

Colleen was a finalist for the Mayor’s White Hat Award in 2018. She is also the recipient of the 2020 Chief David Crowchild Memorial Award. She also is Chair of the Wisdom Keepers Standing Committee.

Po kaa tsi ki na ki (Little Messy Haired Woman) Anett joined the Board in 2013 and was Secretary since 2015. She holds Bachelor degrees in Arts abd Education and a Master's in Education. Her majors are in Sociology and Psychology, with a concentration in Criminal Behaviour and Justice. Anett has taught mathematics for more than 18 years at Siksika and Stoney Nakoda Nations and has forged relationships with many community members; many whom she calls family. Other professional experience includes being self-employed and as budget finance officer.

 

She gives generously to the Treaty 7 community; has sewn for the Calgary Red Ribbon Skirt Campaigns, walked with Sisters in Spirit, and currently chairs both Awo Taan's Fund Development and Community Government and Public Relations standing committees.

Anett Chicomny Pon

Secretary

Robert Vander Wees

Vice-President

Robert (Rob) joined the Board in 2021. He is currently on the following committees: Building and Fund Development. 

 

Rob hails from Thunder Bay, Ontario. As a young child, Rob came to understand much about the Indigenous world when his parents fostered two sisters for a number of years from the nearby Fort William First Nation. That experience led him to want to learn more and do more with Indigenous people.

 

Earlier in his career, Rob worked with a Cree Tribal Council in Northern Manitoba helping area entrepreneurs start businesses and apply for the necessary funding to aid in economic development in their respective communities. He also developed an entrepreneurship course for Indigenous students at Lakehead University.

 

Rob's 30+ year career includes across Canada with specialties in finance and real estate. He joined Awo Taan board in 2020 because of the foundation in everything that Awo Taan does around The Seven Sacred Teachings as a way of healing and moving forward.

 

Rob is a business graduate of the University of Western Ontario and has lived in Calgary with his wife and three sons since 2016.

 

 Awo Taan Healing Lodge Society is A Women's Emergency Shelter in Calgary, Alberta

Meet the team

Board of Directors & Executive Director

Created By Drawn Bow Designs 2024

bottom of page