New hospital, youth drop-in centre part of Indigenous-led coalition’s 10-year plan
A plan unveiled Thursday aimed at helping the urban Indigenous community thrive is being hailed as a first-of-its-kind in Winnipeg.
The community plan comes from the Winnipeg Indigenous Executive Circle (WIEC), a membership-based coalition focused on supporting the urban Indigenous community in Winnipeg.
The plan has four strategic directions - strengthening the capacity of Indigenous people and organizations in Winnipeg, amplifying voices, fostering a positive sense of identity, and developing and strengthening relationships that will benefit urban Indigenous people.
“It’s really about bringing together the strategic plans and ideas of all of our members,” said Crystal Laborero, CEO of the Winnipeg Indigenous Executive Circle.
The 10-year plan looks to develop strategies to improve access to housing, healing, education and employment.
Some of its key items –a $65 million hospital for Indigenous people, an 80-bed, Indigenous-led and operated women’s homeless shelter, a rapid housing initiative, a 24-hour drop-in centre for youth and increasing access to restorative justice and diversion programs.
Organizers say it's important to have a plan made by Indigenous people for Indigenous people.
“We have a very large and fast-growing Indigenous population here in Winnipeg, and any time you hear about a community that’s that young, that fast growing and not fully engaged in the community, it’s ripe for opportunities to make really positive change,” Laborero said.
Thirty-two Indigenous-led organizations contributed to the plan. It was developed over the last year and a half.
Laborero said the next step will be setting priorities on what is needed to move forward.
The full plan can be read on WIEC’s website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
B.C. theatre to pay $55K to neurodivergent actor in discrimination case
British Columbia's human rights tribunal has awarded a neurodigergent actor, who was diagnosed with sensory and learning disorders, more than $55,000 after finding that a Kelowna theatre company discriminated against him because of his disabilities.
Who's responsible for regulating cannabis stores operating under the sovereignty banner?
It's not quite clear who is supposed to be regulating so-called sovereign cannabis stores or even ensure they're benefiting Indigenous communities.