A new shelter primarily for Indigenous women and two-spirit people who are escaping violent home situations is slated to open next month in Cornwall.
Geggunas’g House will be run by the Native Council of Prince Edward Island, which plans to open the shelter in June. Geggunas’g means “held for safe keeping” in Mi’kmaw.
The shelter will be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with six bedrooms and space for children.
Wanda Pardy, the manager of Geggunas’g House, said the shelter — which will be open to all women and two-spirit people — has been a dream of the Native Council for about a decade.
“Sadly, gender-based violence, domestic violence is something that affects us all,” Pardy said.
“Our programming and our support will be very Indigenous-focused, but if we have space available and there’s a woman in need, they’re welcome to come here.”