Kakanigan, which means “landmark” in Abenaki, is a multi-service centre for community action in the fight against poverty and social exclusion, developed by and for the community of Wôlinak.
The community’s former skating rink building was renovated and set up to welcome visitors. Inside Kakanigan they can find not only free hot coffee and people to talk to but also four services available to the community, out of which more actions are developing.
- SASKAK THRIFT STORE
Saskak thrift store sells second-hand clothing and other accessories at affordable prices and is based on community involvement. With the funds it collects, the store maintains and enhances the services it provides, hands out snacks at events, helps purchase materials for creative workshops and outdoor activities, and provides sisiwan [rattles] for the day care service’s cultural corner.
- PAPWOGAN GAMES LIBRARY
The Papwogan games library gives families in the community access to a variety of games and toys while remaining economically (the service is free), ecologically and educationally beneficial.
- LOWADWOGAN CREATIVE AND CULTURAL WORKSHOP
The Lowadwogan creative and cultural workshop is a public meeting place for getting together over coffee, sharing and discussing, holding cultural and creative workshops, passing down culture, sharing traditional knowledge and demonstrating skills of all kinds, such as trapping and moccasin making.
- MIJWOGAN FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Kakanigan also hosts a weekly service that distributes food baskets to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. A total of 34 people each week benefit from this service.
Since its opening in 2021, Kakanigan has been a tremendous success. An expansion is planned, as is the addition of an outdoor area for making bannock and smoking meat, to increase the centre’s capacity for events and so that projects can be further developed. When it comes to ideas, Kakanigan leaves nothing to be desired!
For more information, contact the project coordinator, Mélanie Bonneville, at mbonneville@cswolinak.com.