Waseskun House - Quebec

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Waseskun House, incorporated in 1988, is a charitable, non-profit and non-political organization that operates the first and only totally Native community residential center (CRC) in the province of Quebec for First Nations men. The organization grew out of the work of a group of volunteers, at the community level, who saw a need for such a facility and who voluntarily operated the CRC during its first year of existence. Many within this original community group are still involved as staff or Board members.

Waseskun House provides services in the following areas:

* Residential and intensive programming services for male Native offenders by contract with Correctional Services Canada and the Department of Public Security Quebec;
* Direct supervision of federal clients by contract with Correctional Services Canada;
* Parole supervision for clients in First Nations communities by contract with Correctional Services Canada;
* Private treatment services by contract with Health Canada;
* Private community referral services (prevention and intervention as alternatives to the legal system) by open contract with First Nations Communities.
* Community re-integration services and training for community workers;
* Intensive training for frontline workers at the Waseskun camp in St.Gabriel de Brandon;
* Development of services in areas of prevention and intervention in conjunction with Native communities.

Waseskun House has a holistic philosophy that addresses all aspects of the individual, putting the emphasis on healing and restoration to balance with the total environment. Our approach recognizes that "healing" is a multifaceted and complex process. This approach has been developed based on our understanding of the problems affecting aboriginal people. These include increased poverty, unemployment, lack of infrastructure, inadequate housing, under-education and discrimination. All these problems have a direct impact on the mental health of individuals and only serve to reinforce lack of self-esteem and a poor self-image of Native Americans as individuals. Our work aims at reinforcing a sense of cultural identity, a sense of belonging and a better self-awareness as well as to increase the self-esteem of individuals.

Waseskun House