Happy Summer!
There are so many celebrations happening around us this month. Pride Fest, National Indigenous History Month, and Alberta Métis Fest are some exciting activities bringing us together in a meaningful manner.
At Métis Housing, we are celebrating our 40th anniversary. We have been serving Indigenous people since 1982 by providing affordable, adequate, and safe housing options throughout Alberta. We have made many successes along the way, but these achievements did not come without challenges and we addressed them with the support of community members and our stakeholders.
As I mentioned in the last newsletter, we are focused on renovating and rebuilding our aged properties. We are engaging with the communities where we are rebuilding to ensure we meet expectations, resolve any issues or concerns regarding the building process, and most importantly, that we are a good neighbour. Our community engagement information will be on our website very soon. We hope to see successful engagements and continue meeting the housing needs of our people.
I also congratulate all the families who recently moved into Métis Housing homes. I am sure you are enjoying the comfort of a newly renovated home. This is something that motivates us at Métis Housing. Please do not hesitate to drop us a line or two to let us know about your housing experience so far.
Sincerely,
Bindu Bonneau
Senior Director of Operations
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Did you know that Métis Housing has been around for 40 years!?!
Métis Urban Housing Corporation started in 1982 and was immediately recognized as an effective, efficient, and reliable provider of housing management services.
That is 40 years of providing affordable housing to our community!
To celebrate our anniversary, we will be sharing stories, hosting community events, and coming together in true Métis style!
On August 26, we will be hosting a BBQ at our head office. There will be hotdogs, chips, drinks, and A LOT of socializing. Make sure to save the date! More information to come soon.
If you have a personal story to share about Métis Housing, send an email to communications@metishousing.ca to be featured! Don’t forget to follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming events and stories.
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National Indigenous History Month |
June is National Indigenous History Month. Since 2009, this month has been used by Indigenous people across Canada to highlight our heritage and bring awareness to our history and our fight for recognition.
We’ve spent the month highlighting our Métis history, our contributions to Canadian society, our art and culture, and where we are today.
While we are a Métis organization, we look out for all our First Nation’s brothers and sisters. Many of our programs and services are available to all First Nation’s individuals, including our subsidized and affordable housing, and Family Reunification Program.
This is all our home. This is the land of the:
∞ Blackfoot
∞ Cree
∞ Ojibway
∞ Nakoda
∞ Dene (Chipewayan)
∞ Dene (S. Slavey)
∞ Dunneza (Beaver)
∞ Tsuu T’ina (Dene)
∞ And of course, the Métis!
We are Indigenous. We are proud. We are Métis.
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Métis Housing is an inclusive housing provider and employer.
What does inclusive mean? Inclusivity means whatever benefits and opportunities that exist must be afforded to everyone. No one should be treated differently, left behind, or excluded due to differences, whatever they may be. Differences can be many things including, but not limited to, sexuality and gender.
We stand with our 2SLGBTQQIA+ residents and staff—in fact First Nation’s culture traditionally holds them in high esteem.
The term TWO-SPIRIT is a translation of the Anishinaabemowin term NIIZH MANIDOOWAG, two spirits.
“‘Two spirit’” refers to a person who identifies as having both a masculine and a feminine spirit and is used by some Indigenous people to describe their sexual, gender, and/or spiritual identity. As an umbrella term, it may encompass same-sex attraction and a wide variety of gender variance, including people who might be described in Western culture as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual, transgender, gender queer, cross-dressers, or who have multiple gender identities.” – LGBTQhealth.ca
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Our tenants are our top priority.
We recently put enhanced security measures in place to protect our tenants. All our tenants should have received a private identification number. The private identification number will be used as an extra step in keeping our tenant’s information safe.
If you are a tenant and you have not yet received your identification number, please reach out to your Tenant Relations Officer or the office at 780-452-6640 or via email at info@metishousing.ca
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At the end of April, we held a 40th anniversary event for our senior residents.
It was a day of community, laughter, dancing, great conversation, bingo, door prizes, delicious food, and live music.
This quote rang true, “Don't let anyone tell you old age means you have to slow down.”
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Home Program Grant Tenant Workshops |
As part of our Home Program Grant, we held three tenant workshops over the past couple of months for our Calgary Métis Urban Housing Corporation (MUHC) tenants. We have loved being able to spend time with our tenants.
The two-day workshops offered education, skill building, and financial empowerment training! On top of offering incredible information, we also had food, drinks, door prizes, and bingo!
There were booths by:
∞ AB Credit Counsellors
∞ Momentum
∞ Riel Institute
∞ Rise Calgary
∞ Bow Valley
∞ Calgary Legal Guidance
∞ Indigenous Mental Health
∞ Calgary Youth & Employment Centre
∞ Money Mentors
∞ 211
∞ Rising Sun & Bow West
∞ Métis Nation Region 3
This is only the beginning. There will be many more tenant events coming up. Make sure all your contact information is up to date, so you don’t miss out.
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We’re just getting into summer and the temps are supposed to climb. We found some great ways to keep your home cool.
1. Keep your blinds closed. No one wants to live in a greenhouse!
2. Invest in blackout curtains. Blackout curtains with a white backing will repel some of that sun’s heat away from your house.
3. Close off unused rooms during the day. Some rooms maybe warmer than others, so keep those doors closed!
4. Put an ice pack by your feet at night to cool off your toes.
5. Switch to cotton sheets – who’s using flannel in the summer?!?!
6. Set ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise.
7. Put a bowl of ice in front of a fan to spread some of that cold love.
8. Open the windows at night to let cool airflow through.
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We wish everyone an incredible summer 😎
Follow us on social media to stay up to date!
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