The door opened wide Tuesday on Harmony House, a subsidiary of Phoenix Transition Society, which provides safe harbour to pregnant women and new mothers who struggle with mental health and addictions issues.
First Nations elders smudged, prayed and cleansed the spirits of those at the open house before the dialogue was open to social workers, nurses, early childhood educators, family practitioners, an obstetrician/gynecologist, representatives from Carrier Sekani Family Services, Northern Health representatives, Central Interior Native Health Clinic staff, and UNBC students majoring in medicine and social work.
Harmony House, named after a woman who lost her battle with mental health and addictions issues, was an idea spawned some 15 years ago when Maria Brouwer, a retired registered nurse and now Harmony House program coordinator, saw the need with her very first patient at the Central Interior Native Health Clinic.
The First Nations woman that Brouwer first cared for was pregnant, working the streets, and actively using drugs and alcohol.
Brouwer watched as the woman gave birth and the baby was immediately apprehended by the Ministry of Children and Family Development as the mother was deemed unfit to care for her newborn.
"This new baby was not to be celebrated," said Brouwer. "I quickly realized we needed a house. A safe house."
Brouwer grew up in a time and place where community came together to help a new mother and Harmony House is an extended version of that, which is part of her vision.
Brouwer believes the First Nations community was broken when residential schools were introduced.
"We have to help them mend," said Brouwer, who wants Harmony House to be part of the healing.
"I want this house to be part of the reconciliation in some small way."
Harmony House has room for four women, two pregnant and two new mothers with their children, who wish to heal from mental health and addictions issues. There is 24-hour staffing including a registered nurse, early childhood educators, as well as experienced support workers. The program includes aboriginal elder mentoring, a reconnection with culture, and providing life skills that will ultimately carry the women towards independent living where they are living in a home with their children.
Funding is provided through Northern Health and the Vancouver Foundation.
Lucille Duncan, an elder in the community, came to the open house to support her longtime friend and co-worker.
"I have been working with Maria right from when this idea first came," she said.
"It was very important for her that we bring back the cultural way of raising our families, with grandmothers in place. Our grandmothers were the ones that looked after the pregnant young ladies in the community."
Grandmothers believed that whatever emotions the mother feels is transferred to the baby, said Duncan.
"They understood the cycle of life and they made sure of the child's well being by making sure the mother was always safe," said Duncan.
"Me and my brothers and sisters were being rambunctious and as a child you don't think of stuff like that. And my grandmother put a stop to it."
Duncan's grandmother told the children to be mindful of the pregnant woman.
"So that was the way our grandmothers taught us and this is what we want to bring back - this traditional way of living to the young mothers that live here (at Harmony House), to help them to look after themselves and bring in the support that they need - like the grandmothers - I just want that for them."
