What Minwaashin Lodge does

Minwaashin Lodge is a registered Canadian non-profit charitable organization (Charitable #: 136843026RR0001) founded in 1993 and headquartered at 2323 St. Laurent Blvd, Ottawa, Ontario. The organization delivers a comprehensive portfolio of culturally-grounded programs and services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and children—regardless of status—who are survivors of domestic violence, family violence, and the intergenerational effects of the residential school system. Its service portfolio is structured around a Life-Cycle Model spanning emergency shelter (Oshki Kizis Lodge, a 25-bed VAW shelter), 24/7 crisis intervention, individual and group counselling, cultural programming rooted in traditional Indigenous teachings, full-spectrum doula services (Aunties on the Road), three employment-readiness pathways, street outreach and harm reduction (STORM), transitional and housing support, anti-human trafficking response, and dedicated children, youth, and 2SLGBTQIA+ programming (Sacred Child, Zaagigi). All services are delivered free of charge in English and French with cultural-safety protocols.

The organization operates an integrated service delivery model combining in-person programming at its Ottawa headquarters, a dedicated emergency shelter, mobile street outreach, virtual/phone-based service delivery, and community drop-in programs, with a service area spanning Ottawa and Eastern Ontario. Revenue is generated entirely through diversified grant funding from federal (Indigenous Services Canada, ESDC, Public Health Agency of Canada, Canadian Heritage), provincial (Ministry of Children Community and Social Services, Ontario Trillium Foundation), municipal (City of Ottawa), Indigenous organization (OFIFC, ONWA, Kagita Mikam), and private foundation sources (United Way East Ontario, Laidlaw Foundation, Bell Let's Talk, Accenture), supplemented by individual charitable donations through Canada Helps. There is no technology product; the offering is human-delivered social services. The organization is governed by an independent Board of Directors including Indigenous professionals with ties to Indigenous Services Canada, Carleton University, and the University of Ottawa, and operates Oshki Kizis Lodge as a wholly-owned adjacent operating subsidiary.

Name

Minwaashin Lodge

Legal name

Minwaashin Lodge

Website

https://minlodge.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Minwaashin Lodge is an Ottawa-based Indigenous women's support centre founded in 1993, delivering free, culturally-grounded programs—including a 25-bed VAW shelter, counselling, culture programs, employment training, doula services, and street outreach—to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and children survivors of violence across Ottawa and Eastern Ontario.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Indigenous Social Services

NAICS

Temporary Shelters (624221), Community Housing Services (62422)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Homelessness Prevention, Shelter & Supportive Housing Services (BPAIANAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Housing Assistance & Homeless Services (BPAGAEAB)

Keywords

• Indigenous women services
• Violence prevention programs
• Cultural healing services
• Community social services
• Emergency shelter services

Headquarters

HQ city

Ottawa

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding (Federal, Provincial, Municipal): Primary funding from federal, provincial, and municipal government sources including Indigenous Services Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ministry of Children Community and Social Services, City of Ottawa, Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres, and Ontario Native Women's Association.
2. Foundation and Corporate Grants: Funding from foundations including Ontario Trillium Foundation, United Way East Ontario, Laidlaw Foundation, Inspirit Foundation, Accenture Inc., and various other grant-making organizations.
3. Individual Donations: Charitable donations from individuals through Canada Helps platform and other donation mechanisms. Organization holds charitable registration #136843026RR0001.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Minwaashin Lodge is an Indigenous Women's Support Centre in Ottawa that delivers free, culturally-grounded programs and services to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and the residential school system. Its offerings include a 25-bed emergency shelter (Oshki Kizis), 24/7 crisis line support, individual and group counselling, cultural programming, street outreach (STORM), transitional housing, anti-human trafficking services, full-spectrum doula care (Aunties on the Road), and employment readiness training, all delivered through a life-cycle and medicine wheel model.

Product overview

Minwaashin Lodge operates as a single unified social services organization offering an integrated portfolio of culturally-based support programs for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and children who are survivors of domestic violence and the residential school system. The core programs include: Oshki Kizis Shelter (25-bed VAW emergency shelter); Counselling Services (mental wellness, trauma, and substance use support); Culture Program (traditional teachings and ceremonies); Doula Services (Aunties on The Road full-spectrum support); three Employment Programs (Employment Readiness, Courage to Soar with Algonquin College partnership, and Apatisiwin); Sacred Child Program (children, youth and family services including Spirit Movers, Fire Keepers, and Giiwitaashkode Youth); Zaagigi (2SLGBTQIA+ youth group); STORM (street outreach and harm reduction); Transitional & Housing Support; and Anti-Human Trafficking Program. All programs are grounded in Indigenous cultural beliefs, values and practices using a holistic life-cycle approach.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Oshki Kizis: 25-bed emergency shelter for Indigenous women and children fleeing abuse and violence, operated by Minwaashin Lodge.
• Aunties on the Road
• STORM (Street Team OutReach Mobile)

Products and services

• Counselling Services Mental wellness counselling services including individual and group programs for women and children, utilizing Indigenous Focusing Oriented Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy, Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Art Therapy, and Land-Based Healing Practices. Addresses trauma from residential schools, 60s Scoop, and colonial policies.
• Culture Program Cultural programming providing teachings on Indigenous identity, traditional ceremonies, and cultural practices including Full Moon Ceremonies, Elder Speakers, Traditional Cooking, Bannock Doll Making, Legends and storytelling, Basket making, Tee Pee Teachings, Sweat Lodge Teachings, and Beading workshops.
• Aunties on The Road (Doula Services) Full-spectrum doula support program for Indigenous youth (ages 12-30) on traditional Algonquin and Mohawk territories in Eastern Ontario. Provides emotional, physical and spiritual support throughout pregnancy experiences including abortion, adoption, surrogacy, miscarriage, stillbirth, puberty and menstruation; also offers annual Indigenous full-spectrum doula training.
• Employment Readiness Program (ERP) Traditional Indigenous employment program modeled on Medicine Wheel teachings, running four times per year to help participants find meaningful work and/or training.
• Courage to Soar Seven-month in-person Administrative Assistant program in partnership with Algonquin College, running September to March annually. Graduates earn an Algonquin College certificate and build administrative and employment skills.
• Apatisiwin Program Employment matching program connecting eligible clients with potential employers through partnerships with community colleges, universities, private training institutes, and businesses across Ontario.
• Sacred Child Program Culturally-based children, youth and family program following a calendar of teachings including medicine walks, drumming, regalia making, ceremonies, feasts, storytellers and Elders visits, and arts and crafts. Includes Spirit Movers & Fire Keepers Youth Program (ages 7-18), Giiwitaashkode Youth Program (ages 16-29), Parenting Program, Indigenous Family System's Navigator, and Family Dinner Night.
• Zaagigi 2SLGBTQIA+ youth group focusing on culture and life skills. 'Zaagigi' means 'to plant a seed to grow into your beautiful self' in Anishinaabemowin. Runs Thursday evenings providing support for identity development and cultural connection.
• STORM (Street Team OutReach Mobile) Street outreach team providing harm reduction, safety planning, crisis interventions, and community referrals for street-involved women and women at-risk of homelessness, including emergency transportation, basic harm reduction supplies, and health education.
• Transitional & Housing Support Housing First Services for homeless Indigenous women and youth, including transitional support workers who assist with safety planning, finding and maintaining housing, financial assistance, court support, and connections to community services.
• Anti-Human Trafficking Program Anti-Human Trafficking Liaison worker providing support through the STORM program and weekly drop-ins. Includes education presentations and a Youth Anti-Human Trafficking initiative with ONWA, including supports, referrals, and Equine Therapy partnership with Davlon Farm.
• Oshki Kizis Shelter 25-bed emergency Violence Against Women (VAW) shelter for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis women and children fleeing abuse. Provides 24/7 support, housing and legal advocacy, cultural teachings, and child support services.

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Algonquin CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Algonquin College for the Courage to Soar Administrative Assistant program, a 7-month in-person program running September to March annually. Indigenous women graduates earn a certificate from Algonquin College upon completion.
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOFIFC provides funding and programmatic support as a key funder and strategic partner in serving urban Indigenous populations in Ontario.
• Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerONWA partners on the Youth Anti-Human Trafficking initiative, providing supports and referrals to youth who are currently trafficked or at risk. Also a key funder of programs.
• Davlon FarmminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine therapy partnership providing therapeutic services to youth impacted by trauma and human trafficking through the Anti-Human Trafficking program.
• Kagita MikammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndigenous employment and training organization providing program funding and support.
• Children's Aid Society of OttawamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChild welfare agency partnered for weekly access and visitation services for families involved with CAS.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Tungasuvvingat Inuit: Ottawa-based Inuit-specific service provider offering housing, employment, health, and cultural programs. Directly comparable in target population (urban Inuit) and overlapping service lines with Minwaashin's Inuit-serving programs.

Direct peers

• Aboriginal Mother Centre Society: Toronto-based Indigenous women's organization providing shelter, transitional housing, healing, and cultural programming for Indigenous women and children fleeing violence — a closely comparable service model and population to Minwaashin's portfolio.
• Interval House of Ottawa: Ottawa-based emergency shelter and support services for women and children fleeing violence. Closely comparable in core operating model (VAW shelter, counselling) but serves the broader (non-Indigenous-specific) population.
• Ontario Native Women's Association (ONWA): Provincial Indigenous women's organization serving similar populations across Ontario. ONWA is both a funder/strategic partner of Minwaashin (Youth Anti-Human Trafficking initiative) and a peer offering culturally-grounded supports, employment, and healing programs to Indigenous women and families.
• Pauktuutit Inuit Women of Canada: National Inuit women's organization addressing trauma, violence, housing, and cultural wellness. Highly comparable culturally-grounded service model serving one of the same Indigenous populations (Inuit women) that Minwaashin serves in Ottawa.
• Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health: Ottawa-based Indigenous health and wellness centre offering culturally-grounded primary care, mental health, youth, and community programs to the same urban Indigenous population served by Minwaashin, with significant overlap in clientele and referral flows.
• Cornerstone Housing for Women: Ottawa-based women's housing and emergency shelter provider. Comparable in operating model (women-only shelter, transitional housing) and geography, but without Indigenous cultural specialization.
• Odawa Native Friendship Centre: Ottawa Indigenous friendship centre providing cultural programming, employment, health, and community supports to urban Indigenous peoples — closely comparable in target population, geographic market, and integrated service model.

Broad incumbents

• Native Women's Association of Canada (NWAC): National Indigenous women's advocacy and service umbrella organization. While NWAC operates at the national/policy level, it funds and supports front-line Indigenous women's shelters and service organizations, including urban Indigenous women, with overlapping mandate.
• Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres (OFIFC): Provincial umbrella organization coordinating Ontario's 30+ friendship centres. OFIFC is both a funder/strategic partner of Minwaashin and a peer providing culturally-grounded Indigenous programming across the province, including in Ottawa.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/minlodge
• Instagraminstagram.com/minwaashinlodge
• Xx.com/minwaashinlodge

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Minwaashin Lodge