Miywasin Moment: Unique children’s centre hosts grand opening today

By medicinehatnews on November 17, 2021.

“Grown men may learn from very little children, for the hearts of little children are pure, and, therefore, the Great Spirit may show to them many things which older people miss.”
— Black Elk, Medicine Man of the Oglala Sioux, 1863-1950

“There is wonder all around us, and inside us too.”
— “Thunder and the Noise Storms,” Nehiyaw (Cree) author
Dr. Jeffrey Ansloos

Excitement is building in downtown Medicine Hat this morning in a bright new children’s centre on Third Street.
One of a kind in Medicine Hat, the brand-new Miywasin Children’s Centre is hosting an open house today. Members of the media, community stakeholders and families with Indigenous children are welcome to visit the new centre today between 10 a.m. and noon.
Miywasin Children’s Centre combines private offices for staff with a bright and welcoming playspace for Indigenous kids, complete with kitchenette for preparing healthy snacks for the little ones who come to play and learn. The space is freshly painted and decorated with colourful educational posters and kid-size furniture, a miniature tipi for nap time and is stocked with culturally age-appropriate resources and storybooks.
The new Indigenous-based early learning centre occupies the old Medicine Hat Schizophrenia Society office at 526B Third St. SE, and is a branch of Miywasin Friendship Centre across the street. As the Friendship Centre’s programming and staff team have expanded, the need for space has outgrown the main office building. Miywasin staff are pleased that an appropriate space to grow in to was available so close by.
Chasity Cairns oversees operations at the new children’s centre as program manager. The early learning program works in conjunction with Cairns’ Caregiver/Parenting Education program, and is passionate about the importance of the unique new space.
“Until now, we didn’t have such a place in our community,” says Cairns. “While parents and caregivers attend programming at the Friendship Centre, we wanted to offer a safe place for children to learn about their culture.”
Leading children’s program development and activities is Brooke Simon, who joined the Miywasin Friendship Centre’s Youth program staff team in June. A parent of her own young children, transitioning to the role of children’s program co-ordinator came naturally. Simon is developing age-appropriate and culturally specific crafts, like oversized beading for young kids aged six and under, and building dreamcatchers with seven- to nine-year-olds. She is excited to share Indigenous books and toys the centre has collected.
Donations are welcome for new Indigenous kids’ resources and baby supplies. The centre has had some early donor support from the community. Miywasin thanks Best Buy for generously supplying the new space with office and kitchen equipment essentials.
Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club co-president Bill Cooper recently visited the new centre to present Cairns with a $1,000 cheque to support the Indigenous children’s program.
“Members of the Medicine Hat Sunrise Rotary Club felt it was important to learn more about the Miywasin Friendship Centre,” explains Cooper. “Chasity graciously gave us a presentation letting us know all (Miywasin does) in the community. She mentioned the new Children’s Centre, and identified the need for table-and-chair sets, Indigenous-based toys and learning materials for the children. Rotary’s motto is ‘Service before Self,’ and we look for ways we can give back to the community. This program doesn’t receive any government funding. Supporting youth is a strong focus for our club and this donation helps young Indigenous people and was something we could help with right away.”
Cairns and Simon look forward to offering meaningful cultural connection with new children and families via the new early learning program.
“Children hold a sacred place in our culture,” says Cairns. “With that comes a sacred responsibility to care for and teach them.”
Miywasin Children’s Centre is open at 526B Third St. SE, and can be reached at 587-554-6837.

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