Tag: Aboriginal News

Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society
Remembering and Celebrating the Lives of MMIWG2S in Kaska Homelands

The Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society is a non-profit, charitable and community-based Indigenous organization that provides social-development services to the Kaska Nation in Yukon and northern British Columbia—the Kaska Homelands.

Our project—Remembering and Celebrating the Lives of MMIWG2S+ peoples—will rematriate traditional practices by commemorating and celebrating the lives of our loved ones through potlatches and memorial feasts. Traditionally, memorial potlatches are held one year after a person passes away and often symbolize the end of the mourning period for the family. Feasting is an important part of this ceremony, as it brings together people who are in mourning, including those from surrounding communities. These ceremonies bring balance and harmony to the community, allowing everyone to move forward and heal over time.

Our program ensures that families of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Watson Lake, Lower Post, Ross River and Good Hope Lake can experience this important part of our cultural healing processes that they were denied in the past because of the number of unresolved cases, family members who are still missing, a lack of investigation into murders and disappearances, or a late or lack of notification on the death of a loved one.

We will work directly with more than 20 Kaska families to plan, organize, coordinate and deliver the memorial feasts, as well as design and create headstones for their loved ones. This will allow families to come together as a community to honour the memory of their loved ones.

All Nations Hope Network
Healing and Strengthening Indigenous Sisters and Two Spirits

The All Nations Hope Network provides cultural and counselling support to the urban Indigenous population in Regina and throughout Saskatchewan, supported by community and 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals.

The Healing and Strengthening Indigenous Sisters and Two Spirits program will provide one-on-one counselling from professionals and group-healing circles led by counsellors, Indigenous Elders and Knowledge Weavers. The unique challenges faced by the 2SLGBTQQIA+ community will also be addressed through specific work coordinated by a Two-Spirit person.

The Two-Spirit-focused activities will include healing circles, counselling, Two-Spirit gatherings and workshops focused on specific needs.

We will also plan and hold annual vigils to commemorate the losses and provide support to those who are grieving their loved ones (vigils are located physically in Regina, but there is an option to watch virtually).

Tungasuvvingat Inuit
Najakulugiit (Beautiful Sisters) Project

Tungasuvvingat Inuit, also known as “TI,” means, “a place where Inuit are welcome.” On March 10, 2022, Tungasuvvingat Inuit celebrated its 35th anniversary, and we continue to provide Inuit-specific programs, advocacy and support that contribute to the health and well-being of Inuit and encourage and support similar programs for Inuit across Ontario and southern Canada. TI has been―and will remain―committed to advocating for and providing support services to urban Inuit women, girls and the Two-Spirit community to ensure representation and support for urban Inuit families. Part of that commitment is participating in the urban Inuit sub-working group, the Inuit sub-working group, and the Urban Indigenous sub-working group, as well as by providing input to the Ontario chapter of the MMIWG2S National Action Plan. We are also dedicated to our daily work with the Alluriarniq Program (Stepping Forward) in Ottawa, which works with individuals aged 13 and older who are at risk of or are currently engaged in sexual exploitation or who are victims of human trafficking.

Our vision is to support and honour the requests of the community by making programming and services available to families affected by the tragedy of MMIWG2S. This includes grassroots, community-led initiatives that allow for ongoing healing, representation and support. Following a community consultation session, the participants expressed a desire to continue virtual bi-weekly group meetings to offer social support, engage in cultural activities, share knowledge and skills, speak in Inuktitut, meet with Elders, and receive teachings. The group also wants to organize community gatherings that could explore traditional healing methods, Inuit women’s empowerment as a means of preventing violence and more. The group is called Najakulugiit, which means “Beautiful sisters” in Inuktitut.

TI is committed to the objectives that align with the actions identified in the MMIWG2S National Action Plan. Remaining vigilant will allow us to effectively offer and develop programming and services that align with the Calls to Action.

The priorities identified by Survivors and family members are very specific and include

• addressing the loss of culture and language
• addressing loneliness and building social supports
• addressing isolation for Inuit living outside of Ottawa
• increasing awareness of our services
• increasing the number of community gatherings.

Métis Nation Ontario
MNO Healing Journey Program

In 1993, the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) was established by Métis people and communities that came together throughout Ontario to create a Métis-specific, democratic, province-wide governance structure. The MNO represents and advocates on behalf of its citizens, who are rights-bearing members of Métis communities that collectively hold rights, interests and outstanding claims protected by sections 25 and 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

The MNO Healing Journey Program will ensure that Métis women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals, families and Métis communities receive specialized support and have access to appropriate cultural and community resources, including trauma-informed mental health professionals who specialize in working with Métis families and victims of violence targeting MMIWG2S individuals. 

April 6, 2022 — Ottawa, Ontario, Traditional Unceded Algonquin Territory — Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada 

Everyone has a role to play in ending violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people in Canada. The Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (Federal Pathway), outlines the Government of Canada’s work with partners to advance solutions that will support families and survivors, and address the root-causes of violence, which is part of the broader 2021 Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People National Action Plan

The Calls for Justice 3.7, 5.6 and 17.20 in the Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called upon all governments to provide ongoing, accessible and culturally relevant healing programs and support for children, survivors and family members of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people amongst other things. 

The Support for the Wellbeing of Families and Survivors of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People Contribution Program is one such initiative to respond to these Calls. Budget 2021 allocated $12.5 million over 5 years, beginning in 2021-22, and $2.5 million ongoing, to support Indigenous-led projects that assist with the healing of Indigenous family members and survivors. 

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown–Indigenous Relations, announced that the first year of program funding, over $2.5 million, has now been invested in 20 Indigenous organizations for healing projects to help families and survivors of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. 

Examples of projects include:

• The Liard Aboriginal Women’s Society project, called Remembering and Celebrating the Lives of MMIWG2S+ Peoples, that will rematriate traditional practices by commemorating and celebrating the lives of lost loved ones through potlatches and memorial feasts. 
• The All Nations Hope project, the Healing and Strengthening Indigenous Sisters and 2 Spirits Program, that will provide one-on-one counselling by professionals and group healing circles led by counselors, Indigenous Elders and knowledge weavers. 
• Tungasuvvingat Inuit’s Najakulugiit (Beautiful Sisters) Project, which will provide programming and services for families affected by the tragedy of MMIWG2S, including providing social supports, engaging in cultural activities, sharing knowledge and skills, speaking Inuktitut, meeting with Elders, receiving teachings, and organizing community gatherings. 
• Métis Nation Ontario’s Healing Journey Program, which will ensure that Métis women, girls, 2SLGBTQQIA+ individuals, families and Métis communities receive specialised support and access to appropriate cultural and community resources, including trauma-informed mental health professionals who specialize in working with Métis families and victims of violence targeting MMIWG2S. 

The program was launched as part of the ongoing commitments under the Federal Pathway–an evergreen document that will continue to be adapted to address this ongoing violence. 

April 6, 2022 — Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan

Today, Chief Larry Ahenakew; the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations; and the Honourable Don McMorris, Minister Responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs; have announced that the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan have concluded tripartite negotiations and reached a settlement agreement for the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation Treaty Land Entitlement Claim. 

Treaty Land Entitlement claims are intended to remedy historic allegations where First Nations received insufficient reserve land promised to them under Treaty. Ahtahkakoop adhered to Treaty 6 in 1876, which promised one square mile per family of five, or 128 acres per person. In 1878, a federal Order in Council set apart 42,988.8 acres of land as reserve for the First Nation, enough for 336 people. Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation asserts that the total eligible membership was 368 individuals, resulting with a Treaty land entitlement shortfall of 4,115.2 acres.

Under this historic settlement, the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation will receive compensation of $43.3 million. Of that amount, Canada will provide $30.7 million and the Government of Saskatchewan will provide the remaining $12.6 million. As part of this agreement, the Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation has the option to acquire up to 40,659.97 acres to add to their reserve lands. Canada and Saskatchewan will also set aside $6.7 million as compensation to rural municipalities and school divisions once taxable land is set apart as reserve. 

April 6, 2022 — Ottawa, Ontario, Traditional Unceded Algonquin Territory — Crown–Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

The Government of Canada has committed to addressing the ongoing violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. The Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People (Federal Pathway) outlines ways to support families and survivors in addressing the root-causes of this violence. As part of the Federal Pathway, Canada is providing support for Indigenous-led data projects that will improve and expand culturally-informed data collection on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls called upon all governments (in Calls for Justice 5.24, 16.16, 16.31, 16.44, 17.2, 18.3 and 18.4) to collect and provide disaggregated and distinctions-based data to address the root causes of violence.

Today, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced funding of approximately $1 million has been allocated to 19 Indigenous organizations this year for Indigenous-led data projects that will develop methodologies to better understand the issue of violence against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Supported projects include initiatives to create qualitative, population-specific and distinctions-based indicators that improve data collection, analysis and interpretation.

In addition to improving and expanding upon existing data on missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, the projects will also address gaps of other demographic groups in existing data.

These Indigenous-led projects will provide a better understanding of specific underserviced or underrepresented groups and will inform future programs and policy decisions to address the root causes of this national tragedy.

April 6, 2022 — Ottawa, Ontario, Traditional unceded Algonquin Territory — Indigenous Services Canada 

Communities—whether they be urban or remote, on reserve or off-reserve—should be places where people and families feel safe and secure.

Many services, such as policing, play an important part in supporting community safety and well-being. However, a proactive holistic approach must also include complementary and Indigenous-led initiatives that offer wraparound support. 

That is why today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services, announced that the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative is open to applicants for 2022-2023. This initiative commits $103.8 million over five years to support the implementation of Indigenous-designed projects that support and improve community safety and well-being. First Nations communities and organizations on and off reserves, modern treaty agreement holders, self-government agreement holders, Inuit and Métis communities and organizations, and organizations that serve urban Indigenous individuals and Indigenous 2SLGBTQQIA+ people are all eligible for funding. 

This initiative was also identified as one of several Government of Canada actions to support safe and healthy communities under the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. It supports Call for Justice 5.4 by providing support for the self-determination of Indigenous communities to design community safety and wellbeing interventions that suit their needs. 

This initiative will support projects that recognize the importance of traditional knowledge and practices and contribute to greater community safety for Indigenous Peoples. Projects may include after-school programs for youth, safe streets and transportation initiatives, land-based activities, and culture and language programming, as well as initiatives to support the safety and well-being of Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

Interested communities can visit the Pathways to Safe Indigenous Communities Initiative web page to learn more about the program and apply for funding.

April 5, 2022 —Ottawa, Ontario—Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada

Every Canadian deserves access to healthy, affordable food, no matter where they live. Many communities in the North and Arctic become inaccessible by road or water during seasonal freezing and ice-breakup, leading to increased costs to ship food and other essential items. 

Today, the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister of Northern Affairs, and Michael McLeod, Member of Parliament for Northwest Territories, announced that the community of Fort Simpson in the Northwest Territories is now seasonally eligible for the Nutrition North retail subsidy. 

Nutrition North Canada is a federal program that provides a retail subsidy on perishable foods and other essential items to residents in 122 isolated and northern communities. The program works in collaboration with provincial, territorial, Indigenous and program partners to address food insecurity and ensure access to essential items in northern and remote communities.

The inclusion of Fort Simpson supports efforts to strengthen food security, as residents will have better access to affordable foods and essential items during isolation periods. The community currently experiences periods of isolation during the spring thaws and fall freeze up seasons, where food has to be flown to the community at a high cost. Residents will now be able to purchase subsidized food from registered northern retailers in the community during these periods. 

In response to the pandemic, the government moved urgently to provide an additional $25 million to Nutrition North Canada, to increase subsidy rates on nutritious foods and essential items. The program also expanded the list of nutritious food and essential items subsidized to include cleaning supplies. In addition, Budget 2021 is investing $163.4 million over three years to expand the Nutrition North Canada program and enable the Minister of Northern Affairs to work directly with Indigenous partners to address food insecurity.