Winnipeg, MB - Committed to enhancing our relationship with and providing opportunities for Winnipeg’s Aboriginal population and particularly young people, the City of Winnipeg has strengthened, enhanced and expanded this mandate through the creation of the Aboriginal Relations Division.
“The Aboriginal Relations Division will allow the City of Winnipeg to broaden the scope of its engagement with the Aboriginal community and strengthen its relationship with this large and vital segment of our population,” said Mayor Sam Katz, Secretary of Urban Aboriginal Opportunities.
The Aboriginal Relations Division (ARD) is mandated to provide leadership and experience from an Aboriginal perspective on programs, services, and initiatives that support and address the needs of Winnipeg’s Aboriginal community, now and into the future.
Since its inception and growth as a program in the Community Services Department, Oshki Annishinabe Nigaaniwak (OAN), the City of Winnipeg’s Aboriginal Youth Strategy, has become a pillar of community development within the civic structure. OAN supports young urban Aboriginals in seeking and achieving educational and professional development and employment opportunities, both within the program and in the wider community.
Building on the success of the OAN, ARD will be able to embed this approach into developing future civic initiatives, community relationships, and initiatives with other levels of government.
Another new development is the formation of the Aboriginal Relations Leadership Team, a group of senior employees representing all City departments and service areas who meet regularly to develop and implement Aboriginal initiatives across the City organization. Formation of this team demonstrates the City’s overall commitment to providing opportunities for Aboriginal citizens as well as civic employees, current and future.
Along with community organizations such as the Eagle Urban Transition Centre, the Aboriginal Relations Division will strive to be a point of contact for urban Aboriginal citizens living in or moving to the City of Winnipeg. ARD also works in partnership with government and non-government organizations to foster opportunities for this growing sector of the city’s population. In addition, ARD coordinates awareness and education of City staff on the history, challenges, and unique gifts of the Aboriginal community.
“This new division will provide a stronger foundation to serve the community, and will lead to a more coordinated, strategic approach to existing and new initiatives,” said Linda Burch, Director of Corporate Support Services. “We’re very excited about the possibilities it presents.”