Government needs to do more to protect Indigenous women: Crown-Indigenous Relations

BY DAVE BAXTER LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER, WINNIPEG SUN

A Winnipeg MP says it is time for the federal government to call a national state of emergency and to mobilize funding and resources across the country to keep Indigenous women and girls safe and prevent them from being harmed, going missing, and being murdered.

“This is a crisis,” MP for Winnipeg Centre Leah Gazan said during a May 2 media conference in Ottawa.

“Women are being murdered or going missing every day.”

The House of Commons unanimously backed a motion by Gazan on May 2 seeking to declare the deaths, disappearances and abuse of Indigenous women and girls in Canada a na- tion-wide emergency, and that called for funding for a new Canada-wide “Red Dress” alert system to alert the public when Indigenous women and girls go missing.

Gazan said she is also calling on the federal government and on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to issue an official emergency proclamation that would see “immediate” steps taken by the Liberal government.

“I join today with women and with two-spirit people across the country calling on Canada to immediately recognize what is happening as a Canada-wide emergency,” Gazan said. “We are precious, we are valuable and we are loved.

“We are not disposable.”

Gazan is calling for an immediate state of emergency and implementation of the Red Dress alert

CREE NATION CHILD & FAMILY CARING AGENCY

Family Enhancement Worker –Permanent Position Sapotaweyak Sub Office Shoal River, MB

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency (CNCFCA) is responsible for administering and providing for the delivery of Child and Family Services. CNCFCA is dedicated to providing comprehensive CFS Services that are community-based and incorporate both protection and prevention services.

Our agency will strive to maintain family unity.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the supervision of the Unit Supervisor(s), the Social Worker is responsible for providing and administering CFS Services in accordance with the Child & Family Services Act.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

§ Responsible for gathering information and assessing child and family functioning problems;

§ Responsible for the development of case plans for children and families within program guidelines and provide referrals, support, guidance and problem solving;

§ Responsible for all file documentation, referrals, ensuring services are applied;

§ Case Monitoring, Risk Assessment & Follow up;

§ Provides case management and support for children in care and families.

QUALIFICATIONS

§ Work experience in Child and Family Services with demonstrated knowledge of child development, family centered service, early intervention, family support and community-based services;

§ Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) or related undergraduate degree in Human Services (preferred);

§ Ability to converse fluently in Cree (preferred);

§ Excellent assessment, intervention and writing skills;

§ Knowledge of the Child and Family Services Act and provincial standards;

§ Ability to use a variety of computer applications including CFSIS and FACTS.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT

§ Must pass a criminal records check, child abuse and prior check;

§ Cannot be active on a protection case;

§ Maintain absolute confidentiality;

§ Varied amounts of travel required;

§ Must have a valid Manitoba driver’s license;

§ Must be able to provide own vehicle for work;

§ Required to provide on-call services on a rotating basis;

§ Other duties related to the position may be assigned.

Deadline: May 12, 2023 @ 4:00 pm

Submit cover letter & resume along with three (3) references marked “personal & confidential” to:

Human Resource Manager

Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency Box 10130, Opaskwayak, MB. R0B 2J0

Fax: 204-623-3847 Email: hr@creenation.ca

We thank all who apply and advise that only those selected for further consideration will be contacted.

“Please visit our website at https://creenation.ca” system.

Our office ensures that best practices in COVID-19 are observed. Under Cree Nation Child & Family Caring Agency’s COVID-19 vaccinations policy, all applicants are required to be fully vaccinated.

She also wants to see more funding, programs and services to help women and girls who grow up involved in the Child and Family Service system and are aging or have aged out of care.

“Immediately implement housing and social supports for those children aging out of care, so they are not aging out onto the streets,” she said.

Gazan said she and many of her colleagues have no plans to back down from their demands.

“We are not going anywhere,” Gazan said. “We are powerful, and we are not going anywhere.”

During the May 2 media conference, Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, the chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle, and a long-time advocate for the rights and safety of Indigenous women and girls, mentioned that in 2019, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau accepted the findings of a national inquiry into murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, which said the crisis amounted to “genocide.”

But she said despite that recognition from the prime minister in 2019, she has not seen the type of urgency from the Liberal government to help to deal with the ongoing issue.

“Canada has a responsibility to support immediate, sustained, and impactful action,” Anderson-Pyrz said.

“But instead what we see is a lack of political will and inaction.”

She is also calling for more attention to be focused on the “systemic racism” that she and many other Indigenous leaders say is causing so much harm to

KEEWATIN TRIBAL COUNCIL

COMMUNITY SAFETY AND WELL-BEING PROGRAM (CSWBP) PROJECT MANAGER

The federal CSWBP Program is designed to revive the communal approach to safety and well-being to affirm the holistic view of encompassing safe, secure and resilient communities. Reporting directly to the KTC CEO, the CSWBP Program Manager will develop a detailed three (3) year Work Plan involving the KTC Eleven Nations citizenships from start to finish.

ROLES AND RESPONSABILITIES

• Create and implement an Action Plan that adheres to project and organizational objectives.

• Establish a small Project Team extending to each KTC memberships.

• Maintain organizational standards communication, collaboration and quality deliverables.

• Coordinate all internal resources of the Project Team to maintain quality deliverables.

• Record all consultations for comprehensive documentation.

• Manage all required budgets and schedules, project progress and deliverables.

• Conduct timely program reviews to create program and outcomes reports to KTC Executive Staff.

• Analyze and evaluate the CSWBP to address Program risks.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Postsecondary education in business, Indigenous Studies, Community Relations, Social Services or a related discipline.

• Minimum four (4) years’ experience in Project Management Leadership or 2 plus years in a related field.

• Good written and verbal communication skills

• Able to manage various program elements simultaneously.

• Knowledge of: social and marginalized group issues, federal and provincial areas of focus related to marginalized populations, federal government legislation and programs related to Indigenous issues, self-determination and northern living parameters.

• Policy analysis experience to develop written responses to government policies and programming.

• Able to disseminate government policies in “user friendly” language so the KTC Eleven Nations can apply for Government Programs .

• Must have a valid Driver’s License

• The ability to speak Cree or Dene is an asset

• Provide a currently clear Criminal Records Check and Fingerprints, Child and Vulnerable persons checks. prior to commencement of employment.

A written cover letter with detailed resume, including at least two (2) references with written permission to contact the references and your latest immediate supervisor should be submitted to:

Closing Date: TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023

Late applications will not be accepted

Please Forward Resumes to the Attention of:

Lisa Beardy, Office Manager or Dion McIvor, Referral & MTS Supervisor 23 Nickel Road Thompson, Manitoba R8N OY4 Email: lbeardy@ktc.ca Fax: 204 677-0256

Applications will be accepted until 4:00 pm, TUESDAY, MAY 23, 2023. We would like to thank those that apply for the position but only those being considered for an interview will be contacted.

Indigenous women and girls across the country.

“In this country, when you are born female and Indigenous your rights are denied from birth,” Anderson-Pyrz said.

“Every day is a fight for survival, and we are exhausted from fighting the systemic and structural racism that is killing us.”

A spokesperson for the office of Crown-Indigenous Relations Minister Marc Miller said the federal government would not yet commit to that kind of proclamation, because of the “complexity” of the issue.

“Addressing the Calls for Justice and putting an end to the national crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people is not a linear process,” the spokesperson said in an email.

“It is clear that we need to do more. We need to do more in the short-term to protect Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ people who are not safe, and we need to do more to influence long-term, sustainable progress.

“The inherent complexities involved in changing fundamental structures and institutions take time, and some will require sustained action over many generations.

“As long as Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people are unsafe and at risk, the work will be ongoing.”

— Dave Baxter is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Winnipeg Sun. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the government of Canada.

Professional Employment Opportunity

AWASIS AGENCY OF NORTHERN MANITOBA

UNIT/OFFICE: FOX LAKE SUB-OFFICE

LOCATION: FOX LAKE, MB

Position: Foster Care Worker/Intake Stats Clerk

One (1) Full Time Permanent position

Summary of Position: Foster Care Worker/Intake Stats Clerk identify, recruit and approve short and long-term foster homes for placement in culturally appropriate/customary care whenever possible. The Foster Care Worker/Intake Stats Clerk trains foster parents on agency policy and procedures with respect to children in care and builds ongoing relationships with foster families to ensure they are equipped for their role. The Foster Care Worker/Intake Stats Clerk is the contact person for Intakes by which the community can express its concern for children who may be in need of protection. The Foster Care Worker/Intake Stats Clerk is responsible for statistics, to maintain and administer up-to-date records of activities regarding children in care and services to families. The incumbent is knowledgeable in, and follows applicable legislation, program standards, directives and agency policy. The work environment is fast-paced and requires confidentiality, empathy, and cultural sensitivity while carrying out their responsibilities.

Qualifications:

• BSW preferred.

• 1-year of work experience preferred.

• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Outlook).

• Knowledge of, or work experience in northern Manitoba communities preferred.

• CPR & First Aid an asset.

• Valid drivers license required.

• Effective, well spoken communication skills.

• Speak and understand the Cree or Dene languages an asset.

Working Conditions:

• Fast-paced, community-based, multi-disciplinary child welfare environment.

• Access to highly sensitive information for which confidentiality must be kept.

• Attend home visits in the community.

• Overnight and remote travel required occasionally.

• Satisfactory Criminal Record, Child Abuse Registry, Prior Contact checks as well as a Drivers’ Abstract required prior to starting the position and throughout employment as required.

Salary: Awasis Agency offers a competitive salary and employee benefit package. Salary will commensurate with education and experience

Closing Date: Friday, May 19, 2023

Awasis Agency provides service to Indigenous children and families, therefore preference will be given to Indigenous applicants. Applicants are encouraged to self-identify. Individuals interested in this challenging opportunity please reference Competition Number 2023-044 on your resume/cover letter and in the subject line of your email in confidence to:

Human Resources Department

Awasis Agency of Northern Manitoba

Competition #2023-044

701 Thompson Drive, Thompson, MB R8N 2A2 Fax: 204-778-8428 Email: hr@awasisagency.ca

We thank all applicants who apply, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. Applicants may request reasonable accommodation related to the materials or activities used throughout the selection process

**Note: Awasis Agency Vaccination policy mandate: fully vaccinated plus booster