Saulteaux FN gifts family with wheelchair accessible home

A school bus was initially parked in front of the new house. When White arrived, the bus was moved so the youngster could see the beautiful home behind it.

“It was really emotional for everyone that was involved, and especially for Mitch, seeing his home for the first time,” said Saulteaux Heritage School Mental Health Therapist Joyce Night, who helped spearhead the effort.

A deck, ramp and a few other details still need to be added. Then, Mitchell and his family will be able to move in.

(Left) Mitchell’s classmates at the welcoming celebration; (Right) Mitchell White smiles as he sees his family’s new home. (Submitted photos/Karla Houle).

The First Nation received funding for the project through Jordan’s Principle, a federal program which responds to the unmet needs of Indigenous children.

Night said it was quite a challenging ordeal to finally get approved for the grant.

“It was a long and hard process,” she said. “It didn’t just come to us.”

At first the First Nation was not accepted for funding for the initiative as they were told that the Jordan’s Principle program doesn’t fund capital costs. But after appealing the decision, Night said, they were successful in their bid and “Mitch got his dream.”

“It was a victory for Mitchell,” she said. “Now he gets his own home, his own ensuite [bathroom], yard and deck. He gets to live life, that every child deserves.”

Night said the Jordan’s Principle program was created to fill this type of need.

“In a lot of our communities it’s these children that have disabilities that get overlooked,” she said.

She said everything came together in the end, by being persistent and not taking no for an answer.

“It was such a victory, not only for the community but for the school and most of all the family,” Night said.

Chief Kenny Moccasin was overjoyed that the funding came together from the program.

“It’s a day we will remember for a long time,” he said during the event. “It’s been a long battle, probably two years to get it approved,… and to make it accessible for Mitchell and his family. Now they have a beautiful home. It was a good battle, fought by Joyce (Night) and the lawyers. And in the end you have a beautiful home for a well deserving kid.”

Mitchell’s mother, Sharla Katcheech, was also relieved everything worked out in her son’s favour.

“The house we were living in wasn’t very good,” she said.

Katcheech said Mitchell is “very happy” to see the accessible home at last.

“I’m very thankful for what Joyce [Night] did for us,” she said. “It was a very life-changing moment for us. I’m thankful for all her help, and for Mitchell’s workers, the other people who helped him.”

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow

by Angela Brown

Saulteaux FN gifts family with wheelchair accessible home

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