The John Wayne Kiktorak Centre (JWKC) has opened its doors for the first time during the day to offer meals and programs to its clients in the summer.
Samantha McKay/NNSL photo
On June 1, 2018, the emergency warming centre ceased to offer its overnight accommodations for the summer.
Funding from the Inuvik Native Band allowed the centre to re-hire centre manager Joey Amos as a liaison worker to keep JWKC open as a drop-in centre from Monday to Friday.
The band received money from the Government of the Northwest Territories' Healthy Choices Fund, and forwarded much of it to JWKC to support the position.
"In this new role I'll be connecting with our residents that are now not staying in our centre to ensure that we do have a connection with them, and continue having a working relationship with them, so when we do reopen again, we're not having to reestablish that working relationship," said Amos. "They will know that if they need help, I'm here to help them in any capacity that I can. If I can't do it, I'll find somebody that can help."
The drop-in centre will provide some meals and programming for clients, while encouraging sobriety. Amos said everyone in the community is welcome to drop by, so long as they are sober.
"The idea is to promote sobriety during the summer months … I would love for everyone to be sober, but we're probably not going to see everyone sober, but if people really respect what we're trying to do, they'll try their utmost," he said. "If they're intoxicated and belligerent, yes, I guess they're not going to stay here too long. But if they listen and be a part of what's happening here, I'm going to say come on in."
Meals will be provided at the drop-in centre on Tuesdays by Terry Peterson and the Nihtat Gwich'in Council, and on Fridays by Ruth Goose and the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation.
Other programming is in the works, including a music program, sewing class, cooking lessons and an on-the-land program, according to Amos.
"With Ruth and myself, when we're here, sometimes it's only one or two people or a small group, and they have problems that they don't know how to deal with," he said. "We're finding that we're a good resource for these individuals. We're doing referrals, we're helping them make appointments and go to appointments."
In its aim to promote sobriety, a weekly "wellbriety" session will be held at the drop-in centre.
"It's based on the 12 steps with First Nations influence, and it's a 16- to 20-week program," he said. "It's nothing new, but it's something new for Inuvik."
He hopes the drop-in centre will help contribute to the JWKC clients' overall health and wellness.
"The biggest thing for us right now is to make sure they have a place where they can come in and stay warm, stay dry," he said. "Folks that want to come in, have coffee, tea, play games, play crib, socialize or get out of the heat or wet or cold, this is a place where they can congregate instead of hanging out on the streets. It's important for them to feel good about themselves for the day."
The liaison worker role will continue once the centre re-opens full time in the fall, but someone else will be hired and Amos will return to his original role of centre manager.
Amos said the drop-in centre is important for JWKC clients.
"There's a need for it … people know that they're going to be able to come here freely and not be judged for talking about any issues. I think it's really important that we have this," he said. "We're truly grateful to the Inuvik Native Band and the Inuvik Warming Centre Society board of directors for allowing us to do this."