Skip to main content

End Of The Line

Whenever we tenants get together and talk about life and longevity we jokingly say the retirement place across the street is “the last stop before we cash in our chips" meaning death.  Unfortunately there are times when a tenant doesn’t make it to the retirement home and passes away early.  Since I’ve been at KMHC five Native elders have passed away which encourages me to savor life to the fullest because one never knows when their time is up.

On Twitter I follow the HFD.  NEW | F15032611 | MEDICAL | Loc: 0 Block MARY ST HAM @ KING WILLIAM ST/REBECCA ST /CN: URBAN NATIVE HOUSING | Units: 1 | 10/5/15 11:51
Yesterday the HFD sent out a tweet at 11.51 am.  The HFD were dispatched to a medical emergency at the KMHC building.  After I read the tweet I heard the fire truck sirens and police show up at the entrance of the building.  Soon after tenants and staff were running about in the hallway I then knew something serious was up. 
Sadly yesterday fellow tenant Duane Naniticoke had passed away.  He’s been here for a while he moved into Norma's unit after her death almost two years ago.  I really didn’t get the chance to know Duane he was a quiet soft spoken man who kept to himself while battling health problems.  When our paths crossed he’d respond to my friendly greeting, he had a jovial laugh then off he went in his motorized wheelchair.  Often one could see him sitting at Jackson Square food court talking with his lady friend Pam while enjoying some food.  There are rumors and speculation on Duane’s death but I’m not going into it.
This morning UNH’s staff opened the community room for tenants who may want to pay their respects to our fallen fellow tenant.  It was a nice gesture.  

RIP Duane Naniticoke. I know you’re in a place free of pain.

Tk





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Poor Working Environment

My unit is located near the KMHC office, along with a friendly wave or hello I see the junior staff going about their business in a cheerful manner with the exception of one employee.   You would think KMHC has a pleasant working environment but that is not the case.   March 2016 is when Urban Native Homes head office was forced to move from their former spacious location to the cramp basement level of KMHC.   There were approx. 8-10 staff members at the time.   Then the Urban Native Homes financial scandal broke out and soon after the current UNH acting director’s illicit past became public knowledge, everyone was worried will they have a job.  Fearful meetings going on in the community room, the rumor mill was in full rotation while I just stood back and observed the panic.   Check your search engine it states this building location is Urban Native Homes head office yet that is not correct.  There is no real head office, the organization has s...
110 comments
Read more

The End Is Here

Urban Native Homes Inc. will no longer exist.   Today and tomorrow Ciy of Hamilton/Ontario Aboriginal Housing Human Resources Dept. are interviewing UNH staff and other applicants in the community room.   Who will be rehired and who will be fired!   I just hope they choose wisely. Tonight I heard Christine Lenze, her mother Ingrid Nosel and the rest of their family and friends has left UNH. This evening before I left for the gym I ran into receptionist Melissa Wissner in the hallway.   She was waiting for her job interview and had a message for me from former UNH caseworker Crystal Mackenzie.  Crystal wishes me good luck and it was a pleasure working with me.  I was surprised by the message and I wish her the best too. :) My blog site has accomplished what I started out to do some years ago by publicly outing the mismanagement of Urban Native Homes Inc.  It's been a long arduous journey. I would like to thank anonymous and the others for thei...
18 comments
Read more

Koo Gaa Da Win Manitou

I hope one day we can truly say there is a haven where older natives who experienced homelessness can find a place to call home and have the resources available for the best quality of life in their golden years. Koo Ga Da Win Manitou Housing Complex has a long journey in order to reach that goal. Perhaps more funding is needed or better trained/experienced outreach workers who can relate to tenants concerns and health issues. Programs that would interest all tenants as a whole would be nice. Most important we tenants must try to get along with their neighbours. (as the good book says "Love thy neighbour") I've been here less then a year and I've observed alot, we have a diversity of tenants living in the building from different reservations and walks of life. Some have problems with alcohol, prescription drug addictions, physical disabilities and slight mental disabilities. The one thing we all have in common is our health concerns, from chronic back pain to deadly...
1 comment
Read more