Indigenous Services - AO CAN

Provides a Family Wellbeing Coordinator for Waterloo Region whose  primary focus is direct one–on–one client services that include:

Metis Family Wellbeing Coordinator

Provide counselling, group therapy and programming for children, youth and their families--traditional healers, children’s groups, youth groups, youth yoga sessions, cultural feasts, youth and elder gatherings, tutoring and much more. White Owl is dedicated to innovative Indigenous wholistic practice with a commitment to whole person development within the family and community. The goal for children and youth is to experience belonging and value through relationship-building that encourages self acceptance, self expression, and understanding - a sense of place and belonging.  Wholistic Practitioners work with individual clients and their families to help them in that process.

General Inquiries  Info@wonaa.ca

Provincial Organization to help Inuit who have moved to Ontario.  Local resources are coordinated through Christine Lund at the provincial office in Ottawa.  She will contact Tauni Sheldon to meet and connect with local families.

Christine Lund

This group organizes many educational and cultural events (e.g. jigging lessons, beading) and participates in community events.  They work to promote and preserve Métis traditions, culture and spirituality.

Jennifer Parkinson, President

Expected Fall 2018:Indigenous-Led Childcare Centre

Stephen Jackson, E.D. of Anishnabeg Outreach  is leading this initiative

Help provide rent-geared-to-income housing to the Indigenous community and student housing.

Housing Administrator - 519-743-5868

Multiple services—outreach, counselling, housing, addictions supports, etc.

Indigenous Contact

Assist individuals with their goals in employment, training and education with a special emphasis on the urban Indigenous population.  Have created an Indigenous-led home maintenance business to give hands-on training and have many other projects pending.

Kitchener Office

Provides employment training programs and stay in school initiatives for urban Indigenous Youth ages 15 – 30 years.

Crystal Goulet, Youth Navigator Kitchener/Waterloo Region

Original Dispute Resolution (ODR) for Indigenous Families is an Aboriginal Approach that draws on traditional ways of decision making, problem solving and resolving disagreements as a strategy to streamline court processes and encourage alternatives to court. Impartial facilitators skilled in First Nations traditional methods help families to develop a plan that is supported by the family; other participants; the First Nations community and address the protection concerns.

Wendy Stewart, ADR/ODR Facilitator

Accredited foster care servicing children and youth ages 0-18 years, Indigenous and Non-Indigenous. Supports Indigenous youth to learn and practice Indigenous culture.

St. Jacobs Office

Set up in December 2016 Ahwenehaode improves access to justice for Indigenous people. It provides culturally respectful and appropriate clinic law services and an accessible means to support, intervention and assistance. The program fosters and improves coordination and integration with other legal aid services and across all elements of the justice sector. The Indigenous Justice Coordinator can provide the following support and advocacy for self-identified FNMI people who are in need of legal assistance such as tenant rights, Ontario works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canada Pension Plan, Criminal Injuries Compensation, Employment Insurance, Consumer Debt Law, Employment Law. They can refer you to other areas of law such as human rights, criminal, and family and to traditional services and elder/knowledge carriers, public legal education sessions and cultural workshops.

Lu Lentz, Indigenous Justice Coordinator, lentzl@lao.on.ca

Court Support Program helps individuals involved in all five courts (Criminal, Mental Health, Drug, Youth, and Family) of the justice system. Offers advocacy and mediation to ensure First Peoples can better access the justice system and have a range of other supports to assist those wanting to start their healing journey.

James Boppre, Court Support Worker

Locations & Contact information: http://www.aboriginallegal.ca/locationcontact.html

Curriculum Leader/Student Support for First Nations, Métis and Inuit education and Equity.

Tammy Webster,  Aboriginal Support Teacher

Curriculum Leader/Student Support for First Nations, Métis and Inuit education and Equity.

Nicole Robinson, Equity & Inclusion Officer – Aboriginal focus

Provide traditional counseling, weekly luncheons (Wednesday), social and family events, bursary/ scholarship information, Annual Pow Wow (February), Aboriginal Students Association, Elders-In-Residence Program, and student recruitment.

Cristina Restoule  

Provide student services:  admissions advocacy, academic and personal counselling, scholarship and bursary info, cultural events and programming, Indigenous Student Association, career planning, Elder-In-Residence Program and cultural awareness training. The services they provide are premised on understanding, respect, and trust, as well as a recognition of and sensitivity to the different cultural values and rights of Indigenous peoples and cultures.

"The Office of Indigenous Initiatives is committed to having Laurier be an extraordinary and empowering experience for all Indigenous students. We believe that education, in welcoming environment, that honours Indigenous people, is the path for our people to be all that we can be. We are here to assist you in all areas of life as students and to ensure you have the best student experience that university can offer."Jean Becker, Senior Advisor,

 

Cambridge City Hall

First Floor, Waterloo City Centre

200 King Street West Kitchener ON.