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Working Groups
To ensure strategic growth and direction, the Partnership establishes
working groups to response to identified needs.
Responsibility
These groups report regularly to the Partnership Circle and are
responsible for the following:
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To review and assess
First Nation needs and issues in their priority area(s); |
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To Consider alternative
courses of action |
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To develop action plans
and recommend ways to mobilize resources to address identified
needs. |
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To take leadership in
carrying out the recommendations and action plans, in a manner
reflecting the values of the Partnership |
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To work with the First
Nations and contributing organizations to evaluate the results
of actions. |
Each Working Group includes at least one member
of the Governance Circle or designate, and representation from
both Northern and Southern Partners Circle members. Membership
may be extended to include Supporter Circle members.
Two events helped determine the areas on which the
Working Groups would focus. In June 2006, the Partnership identified
the following as priority areas:
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Basic needs for food,
clothing, sports equipment, books, toys, other |
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Child care |
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Suicide prevention |
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Health care |
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Schools and housing |
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Economic development |
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Recreation and play |
The Community Assessments conducted in Webequie
and Mishkeegogamang First Nations in 2007 identified the following
as key areas for action:
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Community healing |
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Land-based and cultural
programs for children and youth |
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Children and youth recreation
programs |
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Housing and community
infrastructure development |
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Economic development |
Current Working Groups
Based on these identified needs and priorities, the Partnership
currently has the following Working Groups:
Children and Youth Activities
Responsible to build plans together with First Nations and southern
Partners for the development and delivery of activity programs
for children and youth
Communications and Advocacy
Responsible to develop and implement ongoing communications and
advocacy strategies for the Partnership, including preparation
of media releases and management of the Partnership Website.
Community Assessment Working Group
Responsible to develop an appropriate community assessment model
and to develop plans for and to conduct comprehensive community
assessments in designated communities as a means to generate broad
awareness of the needs and to provide a foundation for advocacy
and the development of increased resources in response to these
needs.
Donations Working Group
Responsible to co-ordinate the procuring and distribution of food,
clothing, sports equipment, books, toys, and other gifts; and
to work in close collaboration with the Tikinagan staff designated
to co-ordinate distribution among the remote northern First Nations.
Fundraising Working Group
Responsible to advocate with key stakeholders and secure financial
resources, ensuring the Partnership's objectives are realized.
Healing and Treatment Working Group
To support existing services in communities, develop a knowledge
base and assist in further resource development, addressing the
extreme trauma experienced by community members as a result of
residential schools, poverty, abuse, recent suicides and deaths.
Housing, Infrastructure and Economic Development
Responsible to assess needs, set priorities and develop
plans for assistance in the areas of:
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Housing |
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Economic
Development |
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Food
provision and cost of living |
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Clean
water and sanitation, and |
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Energy
production |
Activities include the collection and distribution
of information concerning needs and opportunities, building and
maintaining a resource network and planning projects and actions.
Youth Engagement Working Group
Responsible to explore ways and means for the Partnership to support
First Nation communities to fulfil youth program initiatives in
ways that respect the knowledge and skill of youth, along with
the wisdom and guidance of Elders and other community leaders.
(From Mamow Sha-way-gi-kay-win/ North-South
Partnership Terms of Reference.)
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