“Soul-type issues” addressed by winner

Having a home is more than just having a roof over your head. Understanding that is what Ed Lavallee has been recognized for.

“Having a home is obviously important, but there are other factors that go beyond that and also contribute to people becoming homeless or at risk,” said Alex Abboud, communications manager with Homeward Trust Edmonton. “Ed (Lavallee) is doing a lot of work on that.”

Lavallee was one of two nominees from Homeward Trust’s ROOPH awards in the Outstanding Services for Aboriginal Community category.

Lavallee was nominated by Larisa Kreider, with the City of Edmonton’s Aboriginal Relations Office.

“I was very humbled by the award,” said Lavallee, who works three days a week at the downtown Bissell Centre as the Aboriginal resource coordinator. “That’s just a fancy name for Elder.”

In his position, Lavallee offers counseling services, which ranges from helping people deal with drug and alcohol addictions and homelessness; performs traditional Native activities such as smudges and round dances; and advises on a variety of programs offered by the Bissell, including its pre-employment program.

“A lot of people need a lot of help in addressing soul-type issues, dealing with the Great Spirit,” said Lavallee. “I’m able to help them that way.”

These services, said Abboud, are important. “One of the things that gets lost in discussing affordable housing and homelessness is that having a home is not just having a physical structure. It’s about having somewhere where you feel safe and comfortable.”

Lavallee, a traditional Plains Nehiyaw (Cree) of the Sturgeon Lake First Nation in Saskatchewan, has called Edmonton home for over 30 years, and the award recognized him for his long service to the Aboriginal community as well.

“Ed reconnects Aboriginal people with their culture,” said Abboud. “The ultimate goal is to end homelessness ... (but) being able to become self-sufficient and become confident in themselves is important.”

Lavallee also is involved with Homeless Connect, a semi-annual event held at the Shaw Conference Centre, where a wide range of services are provided to Edmonton’s homeless in a one-stop shopping atmosphere. Lavallee set up a teepee at the Jasper Avenue location and organized Elders to provide counseling services.

“We were busy all day,” said Lavallee. “It’s very gratifying to be able to help people this way.”

The Métis Nation of Alberta was also nominated in the Outstanding Services for Aboriginal Community category.
“Both were more than worthy nominees and recipients,” said Abboud.

Recognizing Outstanding Organizations and People in Housing (ROOPH) awards have been handed out by Homeward Trust Edmonton for five years. The nonprofit organization is the merging of the Housing Trust Fund and Joint Planning Committee.

The make-up of the Homeward Trust board, with four of the nine members being Aboriginal, and the inclusion of an Aboriginal award recognizes the stark reality of the housing situation for the second largest urban Aboriginal population in Canada.

“A high percentage of homeless or people at risk of becoming homeless are Aboriginal,” said Abboud.

Homeward Trust receives funding from all three levels of government and provides advice and perspective on housing initiatives as well as funding in partnership with other organizations.