'Small is all': A simple approach to helping people heal in the Big Land

The Mokami Status of Women Council has developed a creative approach to healing for those in need in the Lake Melville region of southern Labrador.

The organization focuses on a person-centred approach in the types of programs and services that they offer. 

Stacey Hoffe, the group's executive director, guides the programming with empathy. 

"We want people to feel comfortable here so that they can share their stories. I think that we are all familiar with some of the realities here in Labrador about intergenerational trauma and isolation," she said. 

"We hear stories about homelessness, mental health and addictions, but despite all of that people are finding ways to connect and cope and build community. There is such a beautiful story of resilience here." 

The council started more than 40 years ago as a shelter for women who were experiencing intimate partner violence. The group has since evolved to create three holistic programs: a women's centre, a supportive living program and a social enterprise, meant to empower the people who avail of them. 

The women's centre delivers free community programming to all women and gender-diverse people. The women helping women, cultural crafts and harm reduction programs are guided by Misty Dyson, the women's centre program co-ordinator whose motto is "Small Is All."

"Being told that we are a trusted place to go and a safe place for people really tears at my heartstrings and tells me that we are doing the right things here," Dyson said.

"Our mantra 'Small Is All' means that we can make big impacts through the little things that people need."

Dyson, an Inuk artist who brings her skills to her work, builds connections with her clients and between her clients through craft workshops, bingo games and a program called books and babies.

Avery Brow, who began her work with the group as a student, is now the full-time social worker for the council's supportive living program.

The values of the programs and support that she offers are intentionally centred on land-based and culturally relevant activities. She focuses on providing support to clients beyond giving them a roof over their heads.

"In our housing program we really drill into all of the supports that are unconditional. We are always here for them," she said. "Our supportive housing works off of a housing-first model where we look at housing as an inherent human right. We don't believe that there is a prerequisite to housing."

Rosie Winters of Happy Valley-Goose Bay was one of the first residents to move into the program, 10 years ago, and has returned to the program recently. 

"I moved here [to Goose Bay] in 1989 from my hometown of Hopedale. This is my second time living here in the MSWC apartments. I moved here in July 2021," she said. 

"I have had my ups and downs but I get lots of support from the support workers. We go on outings, which is good for us, we go berry picking, we go to the beach and dog sledding and out on walks. There is a lot of help. It's a really great feeling."

Winters lives in a two-bedroom apartment, which allows her to have her grandchildren stay with her overnight to stay connected with her family.

The council's social enterprise is a thrift store called Thrifty Fashions, which provides supportive employment opportunities for youth in the area.

The supportive employment program co-ordinator and longtime community worker, Patti Maloney, helped create the program.

She works diligently to create a workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion. Maloney provides the youth employees with more than customer service skills. She teaches them life skills and self-empowerment, and aims to set them on a positive life path.

"Last year, we partnered with Choices For Youth to do a training program that teaches youth how to work in retail, like how to work with cash, sort clothes and work in a store, but we go deeper than that," she said. 

"If they are struggling, we work with them so we can make their journey to becoming a successful employee. Instead of working against them we work with them. It just makes sense."

Maloney's dedication to her work with Thrifty Fashions recently won the organization a Diversity Atlantic Award in the non-consumptive retail category. The awards, sponsored by TD Bank, recognize "excellence in diversity and inclusion in the Atlantic Canadian workforce," according to the organization's website. Their work also made them a finalist for outstanding workplace and small business of the year for the 2023 Labrador North Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

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