Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak
"Young Aboriginal People Leading"
The City of Winnipeg's Aboriginal Youth Strategy

Investing in Aboriginal youth ensures the City of Winnipeg is laying a solid foundation to build a stronger tomorrow. In 2008, City Council adopted the Aboriginal Youth Strategy; an innovative program designed to increase positive opportunities for Aboriginal youth in the community and the civic service. In a ceremony, Elders from the Aboriginal community gifted the spirit name of Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak, or Young Aboriginal People Leading, and the guiding principles of caring, sharing, kindness and truth to the strategy.

The mission of Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak is to give Aboriginal youth positive opportunities in the community and civic system by bridging and providing culturally appropriate programs and supports related to employment, literacy and recreation to increase resiliency, self-sustainability, pride and future opportunities. Four pillars, which align with community-directed priorities, were identified to focus efforts:

• EMPLOYMENT & EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT: Purpose is to provide Aboriginal youth with opportunities to participate equally in the economy, in order to ensure Aboriginal youth have opportunities to build and enhance the necessary tools and skills to become self-reliant.
• PHYSICAL, CULTURE & LEISURE: Purpose is to ensure Aboriginal youth have access to health and wellness activities, in order to do our part in building healthy families.
• LITERACY & LIFELONG LEARNING: Purpose is to provide programs, supports and incentives that stimulate and make learning fun, in order to keep Aboriginal youth in school.
• COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS: Purpose is to develop and maintain a positive connection with Aboriginal youth by providing the support and assistance that is required to keep them informed and to have the ability to provide feedback, in order to ensure the City of Winnipeg has appropriate connections in place to develop, engage and maintain respectful and positive relationships with Aboriginal youth and people.

The strategy is implemented in two ways. The first stream fosters partnerships with community organizations that offer youth focused programming and provides financial and in-kind supports to continue and sustain these initiatives. Three-quarters of the annual funding is flowed to our partner organizations to implement their programs. These include training programs such as construction technology, recreation and visual arts, programs that provide supports such as career planning, job readiness and skills development, and a program that provides physical activity opportunities. Click HERE more information on stream one.

The second stream focuses on enhancing the civic system and its processes and policies to allow easier access for Aboriginal youth. This materializes as internship opportunities within civic departments, career exploration camps, evolving outreach, enhanced recruitment and interviewing practices, cultural awareness training for civic staff, and program development that specifically relates to or is directed to Aboriginal youth and their participation. One-quarter of annual funding is allocated to these initiatives. Click HERE for more information on stream two.