Dear Colleagues,
The Poverty Task Force offers our deep condolences and stand in solidarity with the Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation, with all residential school survivors, and with all of our Indigenous friends and neighbours who continue to face intergenerational trauma and oppression based on deeply rooted, systemic colonial legacies.
This legacy of life-threatening discrimination against Indigenous peoples is threaded throughout our history and continues today. The last residential school closed in 1996, and many of the survivors of the 139 schools that existed across Canada are alive today, still dealing with the trauma that was inflicted on them as children.
Our colleague, Diane Giroux from M’Wikwedong Indigenous Friendship Centre has written to community partners –
“Our shared journey must consist of reconciliation as we strive to bring healing to all. Your engagement in Giiwe is one of these appreciated reconciliation gestures.
At our May 21st Giiwe Sharing Circle, a draft list of recommendations that could be implemented within agencies and organizations was shared. This document is still a work in progress as we consult with Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, Teachers, Healers and the community to bring it to completion.
Please consider addressing one or two of these in the coming weeks. Each gesture is a contribution to healing and giving hope. There needs to be hope.” [email povertytaskforce@unitedwaybg.com for a copy of the recommendations]
Merci and Miigwetch to Diane for sharing her words of action and healing. We cannot end poverty without addressing Indigenous-specific racism through meaningful learning, advocacy, and reconciliation.
- M’Wikwedong IFC is inviting the community to join them for a come-and-go ceremony and sacred fire for all the children found in Kamloops, BC on Friday, June 4th from 11am-2:30pm.
- For those who need support right now, or anytime in the future. Please call National Indian Residential School Crisis Line, 1-866-925-4419
Today, the Core Working Group launched the National Action Plan on MMIWG and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People. The plan has been co-developed with the National Family and Survivors Circle and 8 sub-working groups. The plan will drive transformative change to end systemic racism and violence against First Nations, Inuit and Métis women/girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ peoples.
- The National Action Plan responds to the findings of and 231 Calls for Justice from the 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, and the 62 Calls for Miskotahâ (Michif word for change) from the Métis Perspectives report.
- Today also marks the 2nd anniversary of the release of the Final Report of the MMIW National Inquiry.
- The National Inquiry has determined that colonial structures and policies are persistent in Canada and constitute a root cause of the violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people.
- The residential school system is part of the systemic violence experienced by Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.
- The report highlights that the thousands of truths shared before the National Inquiry reinforce the existence of acts of genocide against Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQQIA people:
- The federal government announced investments in excess of $18 billion in the 2021 budget over the next 5 years to improve the quality of life, advance reconciliation and create new opportunities for people living in Indigenous communities.
National Indigenous History Month is a time for all of us – Indigenous, non-Indigenous and newcomers – to reflect upon and learn the history, sacrifices, cultures, contributions, and strength of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people.
National Pride Month Grey Bruce Pride has planned a wide range of activities this month. Go to their Facebook page for more details. Some activities include
- exploring 2SLGBTQQIAP+ terms each day
- education material and self-discovery pieces shall be posted daily
- car rally on June 27th
- identifying businesses as as pride safe spaces
- collecting pride letters to support 2SLGBTQQIAP+ members who are struggling
INCOME SUPPORTS
- Black Entrepreneurship Loan Fund The Federal government launched a $291 million loan fund for Black entrepreneurs and business owners. The loans range from $25,000 to $250,000. This is part of the Black Entrepreneurship Program.
EDUCATION SUPPORTS
- Remote learning will continue for the remainder of the school year, the Ontario Government announced. This will allow the province to continue its focus on accelerating COVID-19 vaccinations to support a safer summer and return to in-person learning in September for the 2021-22 school year.
- Sick Kids-led study (Feb 2021) found more than 70% of children aged 2 to 18 years expressed feeling lonely, overwhelmed, sleepless, worried, sad, irritable, anxious or stressed during the first wave, with isolation posing a significant risk factor.
- Education Minister Stephen Lecce has announced an $80 million fund for school boards to hire up to 1,000 additional mental health workers for the next two years. Over $31 million was announced for support to schools for 2021-2022.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
- Intersectional Action Fund is a federal grant that usually goes to organizations outside of the health sector to
- identify priority areas for collective action on social determinants of health (SDOH) and wellbeing
- foster transformative partnerships to facilitate action on SDOH and wellbeing and build capacity to take action on SDOH and wellbeing.
- projects funded range from $25K-250K for 1 year.
- Application Deadline: July 12, 2021 at 3:00pm EDT. Funding starts no earlier than Fall 2021.
Stay well, Jill