THUNDER BAY -- In an effort to eliminate violence and reduce the number of children in care, a new program has been created to support First Nation families.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation is developing a Family Well-Being Program designed to help families build healthy relationships in 48 First Nation communities across the Northwestern region.
NAN deputy chief Anna Betty Achneepineskum believes this program is a perfect opportunity to be developed from the First Nation up, not a top-down approach.
“We felt that it was important that the community be the one to develop objectives of the workers that are provided to them,” Achneepineskum said.
“With many of our programs you see a top-down process and we wanted it to be developed at the community level and our staff will be there to provide supports to the community while being coordinator.”
Achneepineskum joined First Nation leaders for a three-day training conference and orientation, which began Tuesday morning to launch the new program.
Many First Nation communities are finding themselves in crisis situations stemming from social and economic challenges and this program in particular will be addressing some of those issues.
“This program will work with some social issues, whether it be with family violence, losses of traditional values in our communities, parenting and sexual abuse,” she said.
Achneepineskum said the program will be a form of learning, developing and enhancing skills.
Since July, NAN officials have been going into these communities to provide the information they need in order to develop unique programs for each community.
“If you have programming where you are working with the families…that would meet those objectives and that’s the wonderful thing about this program it can be designed in various ways.”
Achneepineskum said it’s encouraging to see that most of the communities have hired someone, but there are still a few who need to fulfill those roles.
The conference will provide an opportunity for the Family Well-Being Program workers to develop a framework to begin creating individual community plans for NAN First Nations.
