Indigenous health centre in Hamilton is 1 step closer to completion

The former St. Helen Catholic Elementary School building in McQuesten West will likely be bulldozed this fall to make way for a unique Indigenous centre with housing, health care and social services.

Jo-Ann Mattina, operations manager at De dwa da dehs nye s, told CBC Hamilton the Biindigen Well-Being Centre will enter the design and construction phase soon, which is between Steps 6 and 7 out of 10.

She and the groups behind the Biindigen Well-Being Centre met on Sept. 28 to hold a ceremonial signing of an agreement of purchase and sale with the city.

It's set to be complete in four to five years.

The centre has been in the works since 2014 and has been called "state of the art" for its planned wraparound supports.

Niwasa Kendaaswin Teg will provide daycare services, De dwa da dehs nye s and McMaster Family Health Team will provide health care, and Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services will build between 80 and 100 residential units.

"It's not always just about housing. It's about housing with supports," said Justin Marchand, who is Métis, Eagle clan, from Bawating, and chief executive officer of Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services.

"As far as we're aware, it's a first provincially."

Urban Indigenous community will get support in centre

Alex-Jacobs Blum, who is Cayuga, Wolf Clan, from Six Nations of the Grand River, and chair of the capital development committee at De dwa da dehs nye s, said the centre will help meet the needs of urban Indigenous residents in the city.

"It is hard being an urban Indigenous person seeking culturally-safe care. It's so inspiring for me to be able to have that access," she said.

She also hopes other communities follow suit.

"I'd love to see ripples happening in other communities ... and creating culturally safe spaces for communities."

Mattina said there are plans to set up a similar model in Brantford, but on a smaller scale.