Media Advisory: Meat Donation Inspires Traditional Feast at Aboriginal Homeless Shelter

MONTREAL, QUEBEC--(Marketwire - April 6, 2011) - Welcome Hall Mission has received a donation of 50 pounds of seal meat from La Société du Loup Marin des Îles de la Madeleine. Not knowing if the meat would be widely received by the homeless frequenting its shelter, Welcome Hall Mission contacted Projets Autochtones du Québec (PAQ). The Montreal homeless shelter for First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples gladly accepted the donation and decided to hold a traditional feast to recognize the gesture.

This Friday, the homeless at PAQ will be treated to a special evening of traditional celebration and food. "An Inuk elder will bless the Country Food Supper while throat singers bring traditional entertainment to our guests. Many of them grew up in the North and are very excited! It's conjuring up memories of happier times," says Adrienne Campbell, Interim Director of PAQ. Welcome Hall Mission CEO/Executive Director, Cyril Morgan, says this donation helps build bridges. "The issue of aboriginal poverty and homelessness is an obvious one in Montreal that needs to be addressed. We need to work together so that native people in this city receive an adequate amount of support."

Representating La Société du Loup Marin des Îles de la Madeleine, Léonce Arseneau says, "We want to help people in need while at the same time promote our traditional livelihood." Mr. Arseneau also wishes to thank Boucherie spécialisée Côte à Côte for preparing the meat and shipping it to Montreal.

Founded in 2004, PAQ is a non-profit organization that favours the social and professional development of Aboriginal peoples in need. Furthermore, we believe in building bridges between Aboriginals and non-Aboriginals. Our primary objective is to provide food and shelter to First Nations, Inuit, and Metis peoples who are homeless or at-risk. Every night we greet approximately 25 to 55 men and women, ranging from 18 to 65 years of age. Our community members in difficulty are able to have refuge and security through an environment that fosters harm reduction. Since September 2010 we have provided services to over 240 different individuals.