House of Light - Waashtaaukimikw Opens Its Doors
Published on
Updated
A new emergency shelter in Chisasibi opened on December 8th, offering a safe accommodation for Cree beneficiaries in need of a place to stay. Waashtaaukimikw, meaning House of Light, is a unique initiative championed by the Cree Board of Health and the Cree Nation of Chisasibi.
The shelter is increasing it’s capacity and aiming to have 20 beds for community members. Spots at Waashtaaukimikw are available on a first-come, first-served basis daily, and are reserved for clients who are from Chisasibi. This resource was put in place to support clients experiencing homelessness and needing temporary shelter- whatever the reason may be. As a result of this project, new positions were created, some of which are covered by funding from the MSSS.
Waashtaaukimikw is the result of several years of dedicated work and collaboration between the Cree Nation of Chisasibi and the CBH’s psychosocial team, who saw first hand the need for this service. It’s their hope this shelter will help support many community members in 2026.
