I volunteered for the first four years because we couldn't get funding. Eventually, we embarrassed the GNWT into funding something, and it just worked. We had so many people coming to the shelter, and the family resource centre was attached. We had 50 people. Professional people always tried to get us to change what we were doing, and then people would drop off. I would say, “Well, no, we're here to help people.”
The focus on people versus programs was huge. Funding came because it worked, and it still comes. I work with indigenous women on employment and stuff. We're just on a huge roll.