June 6th, 2013, Young Wolves Lodge hosted an Open House to celebrate its 10th Anniversary. On this warm afternoon the bright and sunny home was filled to capacity with those who care deeply about young Aboriginal women and their children. Wes Nahanee, spiritual leader of the Squamish Band, welcomed everyone to Coast Salish traditional territory, and sang a prayer song to open the event. Bishop Michael Ingham offered very moving words honouring both Christian and Aboriginal worship traditions, “for we all know the name of the Creator.” He pledged that the Church and Aboriginal Peoples would move forward as equals in a new relationship, free of domination and exploitation, in which the pride and honour and dignity of Aboriginal Peoples is recovered.
The women of Young Wolves Lodge – Candice, Chelsey, Jessica and Teanna - spoke, often through tears, about their troubled pasts and their gratitude for this loving recovery home that is giving them and their children a new chance at life. Program Manager, Carole Falardeau, read a letter from Ashley, a program graduate, who was at that moment attending her high school graduation ceremony. Ashley has been accepted into Langara College to study psychology with an emphasis on marriage and family counselling. Carole happily reported that another program graduate has just applied to work at Young Wolves Lodge.A solemn moment of silence was held in memory of three women who graduated from Young Wolves Lodge, but during the past year ultimately lost their lives to their addictions. Some emotional wounds are just too deep to heal. The women of Young Wolves Lodge sang the Women’s Warrior Song in their honour.
A highlight of the afternoon was the ‘blanketing’ of two respected leaders - Bishop Michael, who will be retiring at the end of August, and Bob Manning, the clinical overseer of the program at Young Wolves Lodge. This Aboriginal ceremony honours community leaders who give of themselves beyond all expectation in helping their people. Such sacrificial giving often leaves them emotionally open and vulnerable. Covering such a leader with a blanket symbolically covers him with the love and caring and good wishes of the community, so that he is protected and restored. It was very moving to watch two young women from the Lodge place Aboriginal design blankets around the shoulders of these dedicated and selfless leaders.
In another heartfelt gesture, the staff and women of Young Wolves Lodge presented a beautiful plaque to Linda Adams, President of the Coming Home Society, and Rick Lavallee, President of Urban Native Youth Association, in thanksgiving for their respective Boards’ ten years of service to Young Wolves Lodge.
Young Wolves Lodge was unexpectedly honoured by a young man from Urban Native Youth Association’s Young Bears Lodge, who presented a poem he had written that opened our eyes to the wonder of life and the importance of taking time to celebrate every stage along the way.
The Open House concluded with drumming and singing by the combined drum groups of Young Wolves Lodge and Young Bears Lodge. Gifts were given to each guest, the waiting supper was blessed with an Aboriginal prayer song, and people went on to eat and share time together.
Chief Dr. Robert Joseph of the Residential School Survivors’ Society urges us all: “Let’s find a way to belong to this time and this place together. Our future, and the well-being of all our children rests with the kind of relationships we build today.” In our mutual support of Young Wolves Lodge, people from the Aboriginal community, the Anglican Church, and the wider community have found a way to belong together, and we are building those relationships. The proof was in the overflowing home full of caring people, and the overflowing spirit of love, joy and peace that enveloped them on that memorable afternoon at Young Wolves Lodge.
Images: Top, (back, l to r) Carole Falardeau (Program Manager), Wes Nahanee (Coast Salish spiritual leader), Bishop Michael, Rick Lavallee (UNYA President) and guests enjoying the warm family atmosphere of Young Wolves Lodge. Homepage and middle right, Chelsey and Executive Archdeacon of the Diocese of New Westminster, the Venerable Douglas Fenton enjoy the warm afternoon in the front garden of Young Wolves Lodge. lower left, Bishop Michael and Rick Lavallee, President of the Urban Native Youth Association Board of Directors, listen attentively during the afternoon’s events.