Latest News
Indigenous Spirit Fund (ISF) launches to support healthy outcomes for urban Indigenous Youth
(Toronto, Ont., February 11, 2021) – The Indigenous Spirit Fund (ISF), which launched virtually on February 11, 2021, is changing the narrative of Reconciliation through philanthropy by Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST). This new fund will deliver long-overdue financial support for Indigenous youth and children, proving that successful decolonization can happen through philanthropy.
ISF is led by Indigenous people with expertise in child and family welfare, Indigenous cultures, and governance. Andrew Wesley, Cree Elder, explains that the fund’s vision is to create, “a world where all Indigenous children, youth and their families experience purpose, peace, joy, and love.”
ISF will create opportunities for Canada’s private, philanthropic, and charitable sectors to build new relationships with Indigenous families, and the organizations that serve them, in order to create healthy outcomes for Indigenous children and youth. It will help deliver much-needed support to some of Toronto’s most vulnerable children and families through community-driven and culture-based services, including summer culture camps, employment and education programs, and arts and entrepreneurship programs.
“The Indigenous Spirit fund, at its highest level, is here to give the philanthropic community an opportunity to actively participate in reconciliation,” said Kenn Richard, ISF Director.
In the spirit of reconciliation, the charitable and philanthropic sector can create a difference today by investing in the Indigenous Spirit Fund to help give youth a chance to become the leaders of tomorrow.
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Mino Bimaadiziwin Healing and Prevention Centre – Virtual Grand Opening
Today, Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) announced it has opened the Mino Bimaadiziwin (pronounced Me-NO b-MAAZ-da-win and meaning Living the Good Life) Healing and Prevention Centre, a new permanent space in Toronto which will provide the Indigenous community with a sense of space, privacy, ownership, and belonging – all integral components to the prevention and healing work conducted by NCFST.
While the new site will bring together programs that have been running successfully at NCFST for decades, it will also offer new services such as the Tikinagan Mobile Pre and Post-Natal program. The Tikinagan team provides intensive wrap-around health and social services and works cohesively with child welfare to decolonize child welfare practices for pregnant and postpartum families, ultimately creating a healthy start for Aboriginal infants.
The activities and programs delivered at Mino Bimaadiziwin Healing and Prevention Centre include:
- Group therapy for children exposed to domestic violence;
- Sharing circles to assist with positive Indigenous identity development and self-care;
- Case management for children and youth and referrals to other needed services offered at other NCFST locations or by other organizations;
- Family support programs including family therapy, family violence and addiction services, parenting skills-building programs, and life skills building;
- A new initiative for youth in need of preventative services for issues related to sex trafficking;
- Maternal mental health counselling, intensive pre- and post-natal case management and housing services, doula services, infant mental health education and support and a new initiative to provide care being developed by an Indigenous midwife.
Chi Miigwetch to Knowledge Keeper, Alita Sauve who opened today’s event with prayer, Executive Director, Jeffrey Schiffer for the introduction; Manager of Clinical Services, Charlene Avalos, and Manager of Pre/Post Natal, Cathy Punnett for speaking about what integrated services are offered at this new centre. Chi Miigwetch to community members for sharing their inspiring stories and the NCFST hand drummers for grounding our new center in song.
Finally we would also like to thank The Honourable Marc Miller, MPP for Toronto Centre, Suze Morrison and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Indigenous Services, Pam Damoff – for your kind words, support, and for attending the opening of the centre.
If you were unable to attend the event you can view the Virtual Grand Opening here.
NCFST and TPS Community Consultations
Race-Based Data Collection: Analyses and Reporting in the Toronto Police Service
WHAT:
Voice your thoughts about racism in policing. Share your stories and receive a generous honorarium and medicines.
WHY:
Representatives of the TPS will be present to share their plans to collect, protect and use race-based data to address systemic racism. Your feedback will help police comply with Ontario’s Anti-Racism Act in a good way.
HOW:
These sessions will be co-facilitated by an Elder, a Clinical Worker, and a Quality Assurance and Decolonization analyst via Zoom. Participation is limited to a maximum of eight participants per session.
Register Here: https://bit.ly/3nQQVtw
WHO:
Anyone who identifies as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit ages 18 and older.
WHERE:
Links to Zoom will be sent out to each participant once registration is confirmed and the consent form returned.
WHEN:
October 13 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
October 16 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
October 27 from 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM
October 30 from 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM
November 03 from 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
NEW DATE ADDED: November 13 from 1:00PM – 4:00PM
For more information, or to register call Judith at 416-969-8510 ext 3709 or email [email protected].
CHI MIIGWETCH: COMMUNITY GIVEAWAY DAY!
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 26, 12PM TO 3PM
While we may not be able to drum and dance together this year, we can still feast! Visit us at 30 College, SCFLC, the NYRC, or the Malvern Hub to pick up an NDN Taco Take Away kit, and awesome swag like orange masks (just in time for Orange Shirt Day), white buffalo sage, and cold & flu tea.
12pm FACEBOOK LIVE – our virtual Grand Entry! Tune in to listen to Big Train open the day with an honor song, and a Community Message from Dr. Jeffrey Schiffer
For details about what’s happening at each site (or to volunteer!) please connect with:
30 College: Kayla Vesterfelt [email protected]
NYRC: Alexandra McMinniman [email protected]
SCFLC: Andrea Hayward [email protected]
Malvern: Shannon Wooler [email protected]
Thank you to all. Please share widely with staff, community, families and friends. These events are open to everyone.
Chi Miigwetch,
The Culture Team
NCFST Mental Health Survey
NCFST has been operating as a family support agency in Toronto for over 30 years. With recent events in mind, we would like to know more about the community’s experience with the Toronto Police. This survey is only the first step in a multi-step planned community consultation process and will help us shape the rest of our strategy to obtain even more feedback from you.
First, please help us understand what is happening for you in the communities we serve. Please take our brief survey, it should take no more than 3 minutes:
MLSE Foundation Community Action Grant
Native Child and Family Services of Toronto (NCFST) is extremely grateful to be a recipient of a 2020 Community Action Grant from MLSE Foundation. Launched in December 2009, MLSE Foundation has a vision of changing lives through the spirit and power of sport. Through their generous support, NCFST will be providing Aboriginal youth aged 16-29 with barrier-free access to a culturally-safe physical literacy program that combines sports, peer engagement, mental health workshops, elder supports and cultural teachings.
To learn more about MLSE Foundation and their exceptional community impact, please visit https://www.mlsefoundation.org/.