MSIFN Announces $50,000 Contribution to Proposed Chiefs of Ontario's Indigenous Women's Safety and Wellbeing Project

SCUGOG, ON, Dec. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - Chief Kelly LaRocca announced an offer of support for the Chiefs of Ontario's (COO) Women's Caucus goal of establishing a safehouse in the Greater Toronto Area for victims of human trafficking. This cause was one of many recognized and supported during Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation's (MSIFN) annual Christmas Cheque Presentation and Reception on Thursday.

The $50,000 monetary gift to the Chiefs of Ontario, pending the consent of the Chiefs of Ontario Assembly, will support staff and Chiefs in conducting a feasibility study and creating a project plan for the potential safe house.

"We are grateful to the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation for their generosity. The Declaration By First Nations Political Leadership to Support Ending Violence and Abuse in Our Communities and Against Our Peoples declares the solid commitment to end violence and abuse, this includes exploitation and human trafficking," said Ontario Regional Chief RoseAnne Archibald. "Resolution 13/04 mandates the implementation of the Declaration and the donation from MSIFN will ensure another initiative for implementation can occur. The donation will ensure that Chiefs of Ontario's First Nations Women's Caucus are committed to exploring how resources are found to protect Indigenous women from exploitation."  

MSIFN's Community Donations Committee expressed a desire to support the well-being and safety of Indigenous Women and Girls and believe that this project is a vital step in the Chiefs of Ontario's commitment to ending violence against women.

Recent studies in Canada and North America have revealed that Indigenous women and girls in Canada are especially vulnerable to being the victims of human trafficking.

"With the ongoing investigation into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, MSIFN wants to ensure that women always have a safe house in the GTA," said Chief Kelly LaRocca. "MSIFN fully supports the Chiefs of Ontario's Women's Caucus in their work to ensure the safety and well-being of Indigenous women and girls." 

Each year, MSIFN's Community Donations Committee identifies opportunities to support the community. For the 2018 cheque presentation alone, MSIFN donated a total of $366,750, including $100,000 each to the Port Perry Hospital Foundation and the Oak Ridges Hospice of Durham Ltd.

For centuries, the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation (MSIFN) have lived on the shores of Lake Scugog, North of what is now Port Perry. Thanks in large part to the success of the Great Blue Heron (GBH) casino, MSIFN is widely considered a model of a successful First Nation government in Canada. For decades MSIFN ran GBH which provided their community – and Durham Region as a whole – with thousands of jobs, and millions of dollars in charitable donations to community organizations throughout the region. MSIFN is dedicated to continuing its proud tradition of community donations.

SOURCE Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation

Lisa Kinsella, [email protected]