“Love.” It’s the most important thing in the world, and it’s our wish for

you and yours!

In most Aboriginal tribes, the

word for ‘child’ expresses great

value and love. In the language of

the Coast Salish people the word

‘child’ means ‘that which gives our

life its meaning—the center of

our existence’. In the language of

the Lakota Sioux the word ‘child’

means ‘standing sacred’.

Imagine then, the emotional

devastation felt by parents whose

children—the ’center of their

existence’ - were torn away and

sent to Residential School. Families were destroyed, leaving an intergenerational

legacy of young women who have been neglected and abused. Their children

have been taken into government care, and these mothers too, are devastated.

Young Wolves Lodge exists to give these moms the love and guidance and skills

they were never given. And to help them get their children back.

With your support this little one will grow up in her mother’s loving care.

In all the world, what could be more important than that?

Linda Adams, President, Coming Home Society

December 2012

GREETINGS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS….

“The day I made the decision to come to the Young Wolves Lodge was the day I got my life back.

Before coming here I was surrounded by the darkness and negativity of my addiction. For ten years I lived in sadness, anger, instability, and irritability. I had lost everything in my life to my self-destruction—my jobs, my friends, my living situation, my safety, my respect for myself and others, and my family. In the last few years all my close friends have passed away from overdoses, or just walked out of my life with the rest of my family, no longer able to watch me destroy my life. I think back today at how I had spiralled so out of control that I was playing with death every time I used. It took almost dying twice this year to begin the long road to recovery.

I graduate on January 4, 2013 and this will be the first time in my life that I’ve completed anything to the best of my ability. It has been extremely difficult, and it seems as if anything that could go wrong has gone wrong. The last three months at the Lodge has taken a lot of sacrifice but has made me a stronger person—mentally, physically, emotionally, and especially spiritually.

Before coming to the Lodge I had never worked on anything like the Medicine Wheel, smudging, or going to a sweat lodge. I have reconnected with my Aboriginal ancestry in so many ways. All the things I’ve been taught here and from people in the community are teachings I will pass down to my nephew and my children. I can break the chain of the intergenerational trauma of Residential Schools with myself.

I have done so much healing on my emotions, and improved my communication skills immensely so that I am finally able to say ‘I love you’ to my mom, and feel the love from her.

The time spent with my family on Saturdays has been an amazing gift from my higher power. I am able to witness my nephew grow up with amazing parents to guide him through life’s ups and downs.

The staff at the Young Wolves Lodge and UNYA have given me the tools to relieving stress, anger, and depression. They have taught me to be more grounded and gentle with myself. The staff have seen my extreme ups and extreme downs and have stayed by my side so I always had someone to talk to.

In my last month here I am able to utilize these tools with the new youth by having an open mind and letting go of my defects and by leading by example.

If it wasn’t for everyone here I wouldn’t be having such amazing people I now call family. Pam, Gisselle, Annapaula, Gerri, Tia and the rest of the staff have given me a second chance at life with new friends, new resources, and so much opportunity to pursue my goals. But most of all I gave myself a break and I had the best help I could get in that moment I walked through these doors.

Thank you for helping this place be what it is today—you are the foundation of my recovery. All of your caring and helping hearts change so many lives. I will forever be grateful for your generosity and for having the vision and the courage to see your vision through.”

All my relations—Dawn

Young Wolves Lodge—a place of “Maitri” (unconditional kindness)

At Young Wolves Lodge women are introduced to new ways of being in the world. They meet Aboriginal people who are successful achievers; they have challenging experiences and find new inner strength; and they use their voices to change the world.

A journey of inspiration and self-discovery….

Dressing up and sharing a meal on the way to

the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Meeting Adam Beach,

star of CBC’s television series ‘Arctic Air’.

‘If we can do this, we can do anything!’ (proud women on a gruelling first –time kayak trip to the end of Indian Arm.)

Supporting the Musqueam Band in successfully protecting its ancient burial ground from development. Young Wolves Lodge received a formal letter of thanks from the Musqueam People.

Many young Aboriginal people, surprising as it may sound, don’t know about Residential Schools. The grief and the trauma that their parents or grandparents carry is so great that they often do not talk about their experiences. The children and grandchildren of Residential School survivors bear the brunt of this unresolved and unexpressed grief and trauma as it finds an outlet in rage, distrust, addictions, violence, unhealthy relationships and abuse. When a child lives in this climate, and does not understand, she feels that she is to blame.

Whether she is kicked out, abandoned, or leaves voluntarily to escape, it is a tragedy when a young person has nowhere to go to get her needs met but the street.

The Residential School legacy….

How you can help in the journey toward Truth and Reconciliation….

Our country and our Church are on a journey together with Aboriginal Peoples to understand and right this historic wrong. What part can you play?

You can be part of the healing, one woman and her children at a time, by supporting the Coming Home Society’s work at Young Wolves Lodge. The annual budget for Young Wolves Lodge is $356,800. An annual grant of $300,000 comes from the Federal Homelessness Partnerships Initiatives fund. With your help we can raise the rest!

With our grateful thanks to you all!

YOU CAN DONATE BY:

1. Enclosing cash or a cheque in your church offering envelope (one time, weekly, or monthly) and write on the envelope the amount you have earmarked for the Coming Home Society. Your church will forward it to the Diocese, which forwards it to the CHS.

2. Mailing a cheque to: The Coming Home Society, 303 East Cordova St., Vancouver, B.C. V6A 1L4

3. Online through Canada Helps. All donations will receive a charitable tax receipt.

Contact information: Linda Adams, 604-433-8047, ladams99@shaw.ca Websites: Anglican Diocese, St. James’ Church, & Urban Native Youth Assoc.

What if….? When women at Young Wolves lodge are asked: “If you could go back in time and meet someone in the world when that person was much younger, who would you choose, and what would you say to them?” Many women say “My mom.” Or “My dad.” “Maybe I could ask them what happened? Find out why they are the way they are. Maybe I could have helped them.”