News Releases

News Release - Manitoba

August 16, 2024

Manitoba Government Honours Tina Fontaine with Funding for Tina's Safe Haven

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10 Years On, Tina's Legacy Continues to Inspire Change: Fontaine

The Manitoba government is honouring the life and legacy of Tina Fontaine by providing $986,000 in combined federal and provincial funding to Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad. This increased funding will support programming at Tina’s Safe Haven, Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister responsible for women and gender equity, announced today during a ceremony at the Forks.

“Tina’s life was cut short, but her legacy is enormous. We honour her memory today and every day in the sacred work we do to protect women, girls and youth,” said Fontaine. “10 years after her death, our government is remembering her while taking real action to protect Manitobans like her by supporting community partners and programs on the front lines of this lifesaving work including Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad’s Tina’s Safe Haven.”

Tina’s Safe Haven is a 24-hour drop-in centre for at-risk youth aged 13 to 24 that offers access to basic needs in a safe and healthy environment where youth can be cared for and supported. Youth can access counselling support, program mentors, resources, workshops, health supports and more. The centre is run by Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping at-risk youth in Winnipeg.

“Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad is grateful for the provincial and federal governments’ funding of supports for Winnipeg’s youth from an Indigenous-led perspective with a focus on relationship building,” said Shanlee Scott, executive director, Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad. “This funding allows Tina’s Safe Haven to work within community and with community partners to transform care for young people.”

The minister noted $400,000 provided through the National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence will enable Ndinawemaaganag to partner with the Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre to provide weekly on-site public health nursing at Tina’s Safe Haven including support from a cultural worker and mental wellness therapist to ensure a wholistic approach to wellness.

An additional $586,000 in provincial funding will support ongoing operating costs and programming for Tina’s Safe Haven, the minister said. This includes a new investment of $400,000 through the government’s Budget 2024 commitment of $20 million to protect and empower Indigenous women, girls and two-spirit peoples.

“We know that the rates of violence towards Indigenous women, girls and gender-diverse people are significantly higher than in other populations,” said federal Women and Gender Equality and Youth Minster Marci Ien. “To honour the life and legacy of Tina Fontaine and all missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls who were taken from their families and communities too soon, we must do better for Indigenous communities in Manitoba and across the country. I am proud that funding through the National Action Plan to End to Gender-based Violence is supporting community organizations like Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad, who are offering critical supports and services to youth at risk of gender-based violence.”

Tina Fontaine was 15 years old when she was last seen alive on Aug. 8, 2014. Her body was pulled from the Red River near the Alexander Docks nine days later. Her murder was a catalyst in the MMIWG2S+ movement across Canada and contributed to the launch of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

The minister noted today’s investment aligns with the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls calls for justice that governments:

  • provide adequate, stable, equitable and ongoing funding for Indigenous-centred and community-based health and wellness services that are accessible and culturally appropriate, and meet the health and wellness needs of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people; and
  • support the establishment and long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second-stage housing and services for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA people who are homeless, near homeless, dealing with food insecurity or in poverty, and who are fleeing violence or have been subjected to sexualized violence and exploitation.

The National Action Plan to End Gender Based Violence is a comprehensive 10-year plan which aims to create a Canada free of gender-based violence and provide support to victims, survivors and their families across the country. In partnership with the Government of Canada, the Manitoba government supports initiatives that play a vital role in providing programming for at-risk families and children including guidance, support, resources, system navigation services, early intervention and traditional knowledge to create healthier families and communities.

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