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.

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.

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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...

The Passing of Dean King

There's not many original KMHC tenants left that I know, last week I got word tenant Dean King passed away, we were not related and I remember when he moved in the building we got along well, we hung out often and he shared stories about his life and family. Eventually I notice he wasn't the sharpest pencil in the drawer and I started drifting away thus ended our friendship. Dean didn't have the usual addictions most male aboriginals endure he didn't drink or do drugs the problem was his mental state which I believe began after an auto accident years before. After I moved out of KMHC I'd often see him standing in line at the food bank in Gore Park in downtown Hamilton or hanging out with street friend Galina in Jackson Square food court. He didn't have many friends and other KMHC tenants just tolerated and accepted his strange behavior. He'd walk the streets looking disheveled and lost. When I received the news Dean died I didn't feel sad I felt surpri...

Sandy Holland

On February 27th 2025 I heard the passing of tenant Elder Sandy Holland. I knew she was in bad health and said to her friend she's ready to go. I met her years ago when she moved to KMHC she seem a bit daffy yet in a nice way, never spoke mean about others but had strong opinions about UNH staff. We would meet at UNH dinner functions and meetings and always offered me hug. She never got personal sharing her life stories with me which I can respect. RIP

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End Of The Line

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