Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs

Manitoba First Nations

Social Policy Summit

Wahbung “Our Tomorrows”

Closing the Gap

“Cut Poverty in half by 2015”

Developing a Manitoba First Nations Action Plan

SUMMARY REPORT

September 13 & 14, 2005

Victoria Inn, 1808 Wellington Avenue

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Manitoba First Nations Social Policy Summit

Wahbung “Our Tomorrows” Closing the Gap

An Invitation was sent by AMC to:

v Social Development Advisors Technical Group

v First Nations CFS Agency Directors

v Health Technicians

v Family Violence Project Coordinators

v Personal Care Home Administrators

v Child Care and Headstart Coordinators

v Manitoba First Nations Education Directors

Purpose of the Meeting:

v Meeting the challenge to “Close the Gap” in quality of life between First Nations citizens and mainstream Canada – by 2015!

v Updates & news on the First Nations & Aboriginal Health Blueprint;

v The INAC renewal of authorities to deliver social programs (2006);

v The First Ministers Meeting (FMM) with Aboriginal leaders (Nov.2005). Continuing your contributions.

Table of Content

Day One – September 13, 2005

v Opening Remarks......................................................................................................... 3

v Chief Linda Twoheart – Message from AMC Grand Chief................................................... 4

v Panel of Elders, AMC Youth and Women’s Council.......................................................... 5

v Presentation “Measuring Change using Indicators” Keely Tenfingers.................................. 7

v Breakout Session #1..................................................................................................... 8

v AMC Staff Panel Presentation:

o Housing Update – Larry Soldier.......................................................................... 8

o Social Policy Framework – Kathi Avery Kinew..................................................... 9

o Manitoba First Nations Health Strategy – Lorraine McLeod................................... 9

o Education Update – Shirley Fontaine.................................................................. 10

v Breakout Session #2..................................................................................................... 11

v Closing Remarks.......................................................................................................... 11

Day Two – September 14, 2005

v Opening Remarks......................................................................................................... 12

v Chief Tina Leveque – Message for Assembly of First Nation.............................................. 12

v Panel of Elders, Youth & Women................................................................................... 12

v Tribal Council Investment Group Presentation.................................................................. 14

v Intertribal Network Benefit Payment Presentation............................................................. 15

v EAGLE Urban Transition Centre..................................................................................... 16

v Breakout Session #3..................................................................................................... 16

v Reports on Key Goals from Workshops.......................................................................... 16

v Closing Remarks.......................................................................................................... 18

Appendix:

A. Helping You Make Your Own Plan.................................................................................. 19

B. Participant List............................................................................................................. 21

C. Workshop Session Reports........................................................................................... 24

D. Evaluation Summary..................................................................................................... 40

Day One: Tuesday September 13^th, 2005

OPENING CEREMONIES

Opening Prayer by Del Assiniboine, Southern Chiefs Organization

OPENING REMARKS

Chair Katherine Whitecloud provided opening remarks and welcomed all in attendance.

“The reason why we are here is to put in place a plan as technicians from the various social fields of social development, child and family services, health, family violence, personal care homes, child care and Headstart and in education. As the front line workers you are aware of the wants and needs in First Nations communities. With the current INAC renewals of authority to the Treasury Board and the upcoming First Ministers Meeting, First Nations find themselves in an opportune time to provide our leadership with the relevant information, plans and strategies to meet the challenge to close the gap in the quality of life between First Nations citizens and the mainstream Canada. At the First Ministers Meeting, Aboriginal leaders, the Prime Minister and Premiers will be discussing First Nations and Aboriginal peoples relationship with the Crown; health, housing, education.

This week in New York marks the 2005 United Nations World Summit. This was the first opportunity for world leaders to review the progress made in the implementation of the Millennium Declaration, including the eight Millennium Development Goals:

Katherine Whitecloud, Chairperson

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger

2. Achieve universal primary education

3. Promote gender equality and empower women

4. Reduce child mortality

5. Improve maternal health

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases

7. Ensure environmental sustainability

8. Develop a global partnership for development

This Summit is to provide an opportunity for leaders to announce concrete new measures to ensure that these modest Goals are met by 2015. Progress on the Goals to date has been slow and sketchy, urgent action is needed now. Canada has no specific plan on eradicate poverty. We can be ahead of the ball game through forums such as this and implementing plans in our own communities.

First Nations living conditions or quality of life ranks 63^rd, or amongst Third World conditions, according to an Indian and Northern Affairs Canada study that applied First Nations-specific statistics to the Human Development Index created by the United Nations.

Canada dropped from first to eighth as the best country in the world to live primarily due to housing and health conditions in First Nations communities.

The First Nations’ infant mortality rate is 1.5 times higher than the Canadian infant mortality rate.

A study by Indian Affairs (the “Community Well-being Index”) assessed quality of life in 4,685 Canadian communities based on education, labour force activity, income and housing. There was only one First Nation community in the Top 100. There were 92 First Nations in the Bottom 100. Half of all First Nations communities score in the lower range of the index compared with 3% of other Canadian communities.

Yet First Nations receive less from all levels of government than non-Aboriginal Canadians:

The average Canadian gets services from the federal, provincial and municipal governments at an amount that is almost two-and-a-half times greater than that received by First Nations citizens.

In 1996, the federal government capped funding increases for Indian Affairs’ core programs at 2% a year, which does not keep pace with inflation or the growing First Nations population. A recent Indian Affairs study found that the gap in “quality of life” between First Nations and Canadians stopped narrowing in 1996.

We know these statistics because we live in our communities and see it everyday.

Chief Linda Twoheart, Sagkeeng First Nation

On behalf of Grand Chief Ron Evans, Chief Twoheart expressed welcoming remarks to all Manitoba First Nations in attendance. “We are here today to take stock of where we are at with the agenda for transformative change, as named by Prime Minister Paul Martin in April 2004. We are here to engage you in defining the Manitoba First Nations Action Plan to cut poverty in half in our First Nations communities by 2015.

Together we share the responsibility of the importance of strategic planning for change. Manitoba First Nations have always been in the forefront of change in Canada. The Manitoba Indian Brotherhood, the AMC forerunner political organization was one of the first organizations in Canada, led by veterans returning from the wars and leadership committed to change. Our people understood how unity allows us to move together at opportune times.

In 1971, the MIB President, Dave Courchene and the Chiefs of the Manitoba First Nations presented “Wahbung: Our Tomorrows” to the Government of Canada. This document stands for us as a statement of our peoples at a major turning point in our history. For the first time in Canadian history the federal government had undertaken a cross-Canada consultation on the Indian Act. Instead, our leaders spoke about our goals of self determination. The leaders affirmed that treaty and aboriginal rights to self government must be recognized and protected. Land claims must be settled and programs and services to our communities must be under local control with increased resources and capacity building in our communities.

Wahbung is reaffirmed in the 2005 Political Accord signed May 30, 3005 by the AFN National Chief and the Minister of Indian Affairs on behalf of Canada. The Accord means that the federal and provincial governments must not enter into any agreement formally or informally, without our knowledge or consent. The Accord secured the Crown’s fiduciary responsibility to First Nations and that the honour of the Crown is at stake in any dealings between First Nations and Canada.

We have moved forward on a renewed government relations process, from the April 2004 Roundtable meeting of the Prime Minister and his Cabinet with First Nations and other Aboriginal leaders to a series of sectoral policy tables through last fall and winter, to the May 2005 Cabinet Retreat and Protocol Accord.

To ensure First Nations strategic leadership lobbying continues to influence positive results out of the November 25, 2005 First Ministers Meeting being held in Victoria, BC this approach focuses on two fronts:

Ø To improve the quality of life and socio economic conditions, through increased resources to our First Nations, and

Ø To implement recognition of our First Nation government, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights, as recognized and affirmed by Section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982.

In the International forum, Canada’s reputation is at stake. The United Nations ranks Canada eighth of almost 200 countries in the world to live, while First Nations rank 63^rd in the world.

The Grand Chief is committed to First Nation government action and negotiation to improving our quality of life and resourcing our governments. Increased resources and sustained capacity building together with community development will ensure success.

Wahbung continues to guide us: for our people to continue as strong, proud and identifiable peoples into the future; that we make the decisions affecting our lives and our communities; to govern our people, lands and resources.

You are evidencing the unity needed for positive change in our First Nations. You are here working together as First Nation citizens from different communities, from diverse treaty and non treaty traditional territories, from different perspectives and experiences. You have come together to plan a future where our people remain self governing, as envisioned by our ancestors.

Together we can achieve these goals and live the vision, for wellness and prosperity for our families, our communities and to forging our relations with Canada and amongst ourselves as Nations. I congratulate each one of your for your work and commitment”.

PANEL OF ELDERS, AMC YOUTH COUNCIL AND AMC FIRST NATIONS WOMEN’S COUNCIL

WHAT DO WE NEED TO CLOSE THE GAP?

Chief Linda Twoheart, Sagkeeng First Nation

The AMC Women’s Council speaks about poverty being more than income. Poverty includes being denied your full potential because of political, social, cultural, and economic oppressions as well as experiencing poor health status. An overview of poverty from First Nations women experiences and statistics were shared. In health, women 55 years and over are nearly twice as likely to be diabetic than First Nations men of the same age. The lifespan of a First Nations woman is nearly a decade shorter than other women in Manitoba. While Manitoba has the highest rate of teen pregnancy in Canada, First Nations in Manitoba experience a rate three times that with nearly all of these births to single women.

L-R: Chief Leveque, Amanda Meawasige, Jason Whitford, Chief Twoheart

A couple of years ago, the AMC met with First Nations women across the province to identify their priority health issue: mental health and well being was number one. The cause was due to First Nations women being the primary provider and caretaker for the family and the onset of overwhelming stress.

Political disempowerment and oppression were seen as another component of poverty. The Indian Act ensures that First Nations women’s rights and the rights of all First Nations people are not at par with others. Under the Act, specifically Bill C-31, the identity of First Nations people is legislated. This Bill results in discrimination against our children and future generations by denying them basic services and rights, such as health and education.

Another challenge for First Nations women is political representation. While First Nations women elected to leadership positions has increased slowly over recent years, it is far from being equitable. First Nations women encompass 50% of the total First Nations population in Manitoba, while only 14% were Band Councillors and only 10% have been elected Chief between 1990 and 2000. The failure to empower First Nations women through support to move beyond the oppression and poor health status we experience has been assessed within the context of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racism Against Women.

Canada is failing First Nations women with respect to six articles of this international human rights convention, including:

Ø Violence against women;

Ø Political and public life;

Ø Education;

Ø Equality in access to health care;

Ø Equality before the law; and

Ø Equality in marriage and family law.

Now that context has been given to the poverty First Nations women experience, the question becomes “what can be done to address this situation?” At the foundation of this effort should be the principles of culture, protection and assertion of inherent, treaty, human rights and self governance. We must remember that our First Nations cultures hold women sacred, as we are the givers of life, and we are the “mothers of the whole tribe” as Dakota Elder Doris Pratt has stated. Traditionally women were included in various decision making processes, and were key in sustaining the health and well being of the community and nation. The inclusion of women in decision making needs to be supported as a whole.

A second principle that ought to underpin any effort in combating our poverty is that of treaty, inherent and human rights. These protections are enshrined in treaties, and entrenched in the Constitution Act and international covenants, and must be respected and be the foundation of all social, economic and health policies and legislation. Those who breach these rights must be held accountable with swift and meaningful action to remedy any breaches.

The last principle that must guide our efforts in closing the poverty gap is to restore and exercise self governance. Self governance flows from the first two principles of culture and the special rights we have as original peoples of this land. Our policies and laws must be built on our cultural ways and values that have sustained us for countless generations.

The right to exercise power over our own lives and future is affirmed in international covenants, is ensured in treaties, and is asserted in contemporary First Nations political doctrines such as Wahbung.

Amanda Measwagie, AMC Youth Secretariat

“Social development is now based on what the outside federal government decides. First Nations have no determination on programs and services. A coordinated effort is required for policy development with community involvement at all levels. Engaging youth is required and will assist in changing the paradigm of thought. AMC Youth Council has developed programs based on the medicine wheel, and has seen that this results in balance in a comprehensive and holistic approach”.

Jason Whitford, AMC Policy Analyst

“Creating opportunities for youth can assist in creating change. To close the gap we must first understand what the gap is and what it is we are trying to catch up to? Is it non First Nations? Identity and pride in yourself and the teachings is the gap. Instill pride and acknowledgment of our culture and traditional teachings. Working hard for a positive lifestyle and to become role models is also important. We should not be striving for material things only, rather we should be striving for feeling good about ones self and the personal accomplishments. In the words of Grand Chief Dennis White Bird’s “start within yourself in order to help others”.

Elder Calvin Pompana, Sioux Valley Dakota Nation

He related personal experience and traditional teachings as the backbone to closing the gap. “First and foremost is the understanding of one’s identity, language and ceremonies. Our parents and Elders lived the traditional lifestyle that respected sacred relationships such as marriage and instilled the strong ethics such as discipline. Closing the gap can be done by remembering these traditional laws and teaching this to the younger generations, especially those that have fallen on hard times. It is never too late to learn and appreciate what the Creator has given us”.

PRESENTATION “MEASURING CHANGE USING INDICATORS”

Keely Tenfingers, AMC Policy Analyst

Indicators are a group of statistical values that, when taken together, give an indication of the well-being, poverty, health, etc. of a population. The level of education, average income per household, unemployment rate and the average person per home are examples of determinants of health. These become useful in assessing the status of a population, and therefore, can help decision makers, technicians, administrators, etc. identify areas for improvement, action and change.

Mainstream indicators have typically been economic based such as the gross domestic product. The move towards recognition of importance of other factors including social and political is ongoing and becoming increasingly popular with decision makers. On the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI), Canada ranked 8^th and First Nations ranked 63^rd in developing countries. There are limitations because the indicators do not capture non-market forces such as health and social. The indicators also do not recognize the “indivisibility of culture and development” by including considerations of culture, which is stated on the UNESCO website.

First Nations educators like Dr. Cora Voyageur of the University of Calgary warn not to strive for mainstream non native indicators. At the Aboriginal Strategies Conference (November 2003) Voyageur stated “it must not be implied that First Nations people are deficit white people”. She meant that mainstream indicators are being imposed on First Nations people, and, there is a need to go beyond mainstream to accurately tell our life and focus on positive indicators for empowerment.

Keely Ten Fingers, AMC

Manitoba First Nations Quality of Life Projects

Ø “Quality of Life” (QOL) Indicators are measurements of how good or bad the lives or experiences are of a population. When done over time, they can tell if their situation is improving or not.

Ø Dakota Social Policy Project is the development of culturally rooted social policy utilizing both Indigenous and Western research methods and engaging the entire community.

Ø Urban Dakota and Dene QOL research has engaged a sample group of Dene and Dakota people living in Winnipeg to identify what makes their lives good and to develop a tool (survey) to assess their respective QOL.

What was found in the Urban Dakota and Dene QOL was that the groups have similar QOL in culture, employment and training, living situations and experience. The differences were Dakota also identified family and friends as well as employment. The Dene also referenced health, Dene interests/concerns, sense of belonging, justice system & issues and social services.

The preliminary findings show that the Urban Dakota are doing well, with the exception of sustaining and strengthening their culture. The Urban Dene face many challenges and difficulties, including overwhelming sense of disconnection and lack of sense of belonging due to their relocation experiences. Much needs to be done to improve their situation. Both groups turn to their own First Nations governments and institutions and themselves to improve their situation, rather than the provincial and municipal governments. Due to the unique culture and perspectives of these peoples, it is important that distinct and unique QOL indicators are respected and maintained.

BREAKOUT SESSION #1: “MEASURING SUCCESS: WHAT INDICATORS TO USE?”

Q.1 What are the signs of poverty in your community?

Q.2 What indicators are useful to measuring poverty in your community?

Q.3 What data or information is currently collected in your community that will help measure the change in poverty over time?

Q.4 What is needed in your community to support the collection of data or information required to measure the change in poverty over time?

These discussions led to a realization and recognition that First Nations approaches and incentives and goal-making cannot adequately be done within the negative framework of “cutting poverty in half” using mainstream indicators. Instead, of looking at what First Nations lack, the groups began to identify the need for positive indicators, positive goals, and plans of action.

v Build “hope and opportunity”.

v “Understand who we are and where we came from”.

v