Treaty 2 Territory – Booshzoo, Tansi, Hello. I am pleased that I joined the FNiT2T Government on May 6, 2019. I am happy to be a helper and I look forward to the journey ahead. Miigwetch – May 2019 Report – Director, Lorie Thompson
CONSTITUTION and LAW DEVELOPMENT
Throughout the month of May, Open Houses and Committee Meetings took place in Keeseekoowenin First Nation, Lake St. Martin First Nation and Ebb & Flow First Nation regarding constitution and law development. Constitution development is a stepping-stone process for the FNiT2T to create additional laws they select such as a Child and Family Well-being law. The great aspect of this process is it is a Nation led process that will empower the Nations to create what they need in a manner where they are able to restore their original law and identity in the constitution and laws.
BILL C-92 : An Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families UPDATE
Bill C-92 was presented in the House of Commons on April 29th, 2019. The purpose of this Bill is to affirm the rights and jurisdiction of Indigenous peoples (First Nations, Inuit and Metis) in relation to child and family services and to set out principles applicable, on a national level, regarding provision of child and family services in relation to Indigenous children (First Nations, Inuit and Metis).
The Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs has been tasked with reviewing the Bill and reporting to the House of Commons. On Tuesday, May 28, 2019 Standing Committee completed the study, approved amendments to the Bill, hopes it will be a helpful piece of legislation and ordered the Bill be reprinted and presented the amended Bill to the House on Thursday, May 30, 2019. To listen to the Standing Committee amendment proceeding, Click Here!
MMIWG – Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry
After decades of
mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunties, and cousins calling for an end to
violence against Indigenous women, the National Inquiry into Missing and
Murdered Indigenous Women
and Girls was established in 2016.
The mandate of the National Inquiry is to report on the systemic causes of all forms of violence against Indigenous women and girls, including sexual violence. This includes issues like sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, bullying and harassment, suicide, and self-harm.
To accomplish the mandate of the Inquiry, three key approaches were adopted:
- To be trauma-informed. To accomplish this, strive to support healing without further harm.
- To be decolonizing. To accomplish this, strive to undo the forces of colonialism and root our work in Indigenous values, philosophies, and knowledge systems.
- To put families first. To accomplish this, strive to fully include the families of women and girls lost to violence. This ensures that those who cannot speak for themselves continue to have a voice.
The final report will be formally provided to Canada on Monday, June 3, 2019. However, media has been able to obtain a copy of it and has reported that it is a report that does not hold back the truth and that what has happened to Indigenous women in Canada is genocide. Genocide according to the United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
is defined as:
(a) Killing members of the group;
(b) Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group;
(c) Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part;
(d) Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group;
(e) Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group.
See CBC story for more details on the MMIWG Inquiry Final Report
NEXT STEPS TARGETS FOR JUNE 2019
- Bring the FNiT2T together for follow-up discussion and guidance on next steps.
- Continue to implement the FNiT2T Work Plan to facilitate improvement of child welfare and well-being within the Nations
- Carry out required dialogue and engagement with the FNiT2T according the Work Plan.
- Continue to develop positive relationship with external groups and agencies.
Should you wish to discuss any of the above or would like to share your prespective, please contact Lorie Thompson at 431-200-0165 or by email at lorie.thompson@treaty2.com
WELL-BEING & SELF-CARE
Self-care Information Tips:
- Call it a night and go to be early – rest helps.
- Start a Thankfulness Journal, “I’m thankful for…
- Go for a walk
- Have a visit without looking at your phone
- Sit outside and listen to nature
- Think positive
Take the work-life-balance quiz: https://cmha.ca/work-life-balance-quiz
Last modified: June 1, 2019
