Manitoba launches $20 million fund for retrofit

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Families Minister Nahanni Fontaine, minister of women and gender equality, announced Friday that the Manitoba government is launching a new $20 million provincial strategy to support the safety, protection and empowerment of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse relatives.

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“Everyone deserves to feel safe and protected within their community;” said Fontaine. “But people must also be able to move beyond survival to a future where they can thrive. “The Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag Strategy responds to the ongoing need for justice, safety and dignity for all women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse relatives and epitomizes our government’s commitment to prioritizing their safety, protection and empowerment.”

Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag is a four-year, 10-pillar strategy that takes a whole-of-government approach to address the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse people (MMIWG2S+). It focuses on short-term actions that lead to long-term solutions. The pillars focus on access to culture, economic development, education, food security, healthcare, healthy communities, housing, justice and security, transportation, and matriarchal leadership.

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Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag means “all women are well off” in the Anishinaabemowin language. The name was given by respected Anishinaabe Elder and Language Keeper Katie Whitford of the Sandy Bay Ojibway First Nation, and reflects the development of the strategy with consideration for women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse citizens of all ethnicities and backgrounds, the minister said. in question.

The Minister noted that the Matriarchal Circle, a diverse group of accomplished Afro-Indigenous, Anishinaabe, Anishinew, Nehethowuk, Dakota Oyate, Denesuline, Inuit and Métis women, youth and gender-diverse kin, is integral to the development of Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag .

“When women are stuck on a dangerous path without the support to create a different path forward, we know where that path leads,” said Megan McKenzie, principal investigator for the Brandon Neighborhood Renewal Corporation’s Chronic Homelessness Action Study. “When we leverage the ideas and knowledge of women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse people, supported by a strategy like Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag, we can ensure people can travel safely on the good road.”

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This $20 million strategy includes a $15 million grant fund to support MMIWG2S+ families and a $2.2 million fund of empowerment and prevention grants for programs and services for Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse relatives.

Other initiatives include:

$750,000 For the All Nations Coordinated Response Network’s Safe Journey programme, which helps the safe return of young people out of care
$160,000 To support urban Indigenous relatives, including housing and environmental services for the Fisher River Cree First Nation healing space at the corner of Osborne Street and Morley Avenue in Winnipeg
$60,000 Norwegian House Cree Nation hosts an annual Healing and Family Gathering to bring together families affected by the loss of loved ones to share the healing experience with others; and more

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The minister noted that Manitoba continues to have some of the highest rates of disappearances and murders of Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse relatives in Canada. Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag calls for urgent action, consistent efforts, adequate resources and political will to create lasting change. The minister said Mino’Ayaawag Ikwewag’s goal is to ensure Manitoba is a place where Indigenous women, girls, two-spirit and gender diverse relatives can thrive so their dreams can come true.

The strategy responds to Taking Back Power and Place: Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, which includes 231 Calls for Justice aimed at ending violence against governments, institutions, social service providers, industries and all Canadians. Indigenous women and girls.

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