NAOTKAMEGWANNING F.N.

Introduction

Naotkamegwanning First Nation, formerly known as Whitefish Bay First Nation, is located near the town ship of Sioux Narrows and approximately 100 km driving distance from the city of Kenora which is the nearest service centre. It takes approximately 1 hour to drive from the community to Kenora.

As of April 2011, total registered population is 1,171 of which 694 members are living on reserve. The majority of the community population is between the ages of 16 -38.

We have a caseload of 88 clients as of April 2012, the majority of our caseload are single clients.

Ontario Works Staffing

OW Administrator, Mary Jane Gauthier

OW Assistant/Employment Finance, Leona Namaypoke

2 - Employment Caseworker, Bonita Kavanaugh and Mizzen Paypompee

Receptionist/File clerk

Employment

• West End Water and Sewage Construction Project: employed about 15 of our community members some of which were OW clients.

• Black River Summer Cultural Camp: resources come together and develop programs for children from ages 9 and up, OW participants volunteer, or provided with an honorarium for there services.

• Hydro tree line cutting: employed 4 guys with families, and now the source of income is EI Benefits.

• Arena: Chief and council made a priority to get our arena up and running, that trained and employed 2 of our clients 1 was on SATF.

• Cultural centre: Has employment and training area, the staff are Hope and healing coordinator, council and youth council members, we have a cultural ojibway language instructor, this also provides volunteer hours for OW clients.

Employment Assistant Programs:

• Fire Fighting SP-100; 6 clients attending training in Dryden, training dollars provided by Shooniyaa Wa-Biitong and OW providing accommodations, travel and equipment needed for training.

• 5 clients will be trained how to commercial fish in the Lac Seul area, source of income will be selling fish.

• Networking with resources providing training and workshop within the community, such as healthy babies, NNDAP, Hope and Healing, Economic Development.

Education

• Collaborated with the High School teachers in regards to the Monthly Reporting Forms – created a better tracking system for attendance. Teachers understand the form.

• Incentive for each credit earned – it is the responsibility of the client to inform us of credit earned.

• Alternative Education – Adult Education Centre where some of our client are taking the PLAR component

What is PLAR?(Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition)

• It has been developed for Mature Students – those who are over 18, have been out of school for at least one year and have less than 16 credits

• PLAR for grades 9 and 10 involves assessments in 4 subjects; Math, English, Science and Geography/History. Each of the 4 assessments involves completing 5 lessons and writing a test.

• Students can be granted up to 4 compulsory credits for each subject completed, depending on what they need

• Once completed grades 9 and 10, students can then apply for equivalent credits for grades 11 and 12

PLAR cont’d

• This application process involves providing information on activities outside of school – for example; parenting, paid employment, volunteer activities, athletic/leisure activities, club affiliations, etc.

• If some of this information matches the learning expectations for a senior credit, the student can be given the equivalent credit.

• No student can be brought up to more than 26 credits

• Every student is required to do the last 4 credits

Success Stories:

• SATF Program• 4 clients completed their 1 year placement• Prevention Services secretary, Arena Maintenance,

Ontario Works Secretary and Cultural Recreational worker • We have 1 SATF client that has continued his

employment, he is now one of our employment caseworkers, Mizzen Paypompee

Client that was completing Community Participation Hours at the Elder’s Residence Facility was later employed on a full-time basis

Introduction to office Administration Program

• 10 week Training course with training allowance, 2 week job placement.

• Intro to Office Administration – Confederation College

• 10 students – OW clients

• 10 out of 10 successfully completed the program

• 5 of the students are employed full time within the community

• 2 students furthered there Education at the Yellowquil college in Manitoba.

Barriers

• Learning – reading and writing

• No motivation, No encouragement

• Low self esteem

• Lack of opportunities (employment)

• Semi isolated community

• No transportation

• Dependant on the system

Addressing Barriers:

• Employment Consulting Services; support based on interests and skill set, employment assessments, on-site job coaching one to one.

• Kenora Chief Advisory hired a Life Skills Worker under the Min-O-Qwe-Ke-Ga-Bwe’in Social Services Initiative program for the 7 communities.

• A better working relationship with our Resources within the community; Health Services, Band Administration, Education Authority, Women Shelter, Prevention & Protection, and Shawendaasowin Family services. Etc.

THANK YOU