Successes Amongst FNMI people in Canada

1. Successes Amongst FNMI people in Canada

2. The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) (2006 and on) • The Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement (IRSSA) is the largest Native legal win in Canadian history. • On May 10, 2006, the Government of Canada agreed to the settlement. Every past student who went to an Indian Residential School and was still living on May 30, 2005, received a payment from the government.Truth and Reconciliation • A Truth and Reconciliation Commission be set up to promote public education and awareness about the Indian Residential School system and its legacy, as well as provide former students, their families and communities an opportunity to share their Indian Residential School experiences in a safe and culturally-appropriate environment.Independent Assessment Process • The Independent Assessment Process (IAP) is the process to assist former students settle their claims for abuse they suffered at Indian Residential Schools. • The IAP compensates former students for sexual abuse, serious physical abuse and certain other wrongful acts which caused serious psychological consequences for the individual. This compensation is available in addition to the Common Experience Payment. Commemoration • The IRSSA provides $20 million in funding to commemorate the legacy of Indian Residential Schools. Commemoration is about honouring, educating, remembering, memorializing and paying tribute to former students of Indian Residential Schools, their families and the larger Aboriginal community. It also acknowledges their experiences and the broad, systemic impacts of the Indian Residential Schools system.Healing • The IRSSA provides for an additional endowment of $125 million to the Aboriginal Healing Foundation, to continue to support healing programs and initiatives for a further five years following the Implementation Date.

3. Truth and Reconciliation: • The TRC is a component of the Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement. Its mandate is to inform all Canadians about what happened in Indian Residential Schools (IRS). The Commission will document the truth of survivors, families, communities and anyone personally affected by the IRS experience. This includes First Nations, Inuit and Métis former Indian Residential School students, their families, communities, the Churches, former school employees, Government and other Canadians.The Commission has a five-year mandate and is supported by a TRC Secretariat, which is a federal government department. • This allows for the stories of survivors of the Residential Schools to be heard.

4. Tikinagan Child and Family Services (1984 and ongoing) Working Together to Raise our Children • Welcome to Tikinagan Child and Family Services. We live and work in 30 First Nations in Northwestern Ontario. Founded by our Chiefs and Elders in 1984, we have developed services and strategies which reflect the spirit and intent of our founding principles and values - respect, trust, commitment to our culture, our languages and our Elders, and a passion to be accountable to our communities, leaders and membership. The Answers Lie within the Communities • For Tikinagan the solutions for our families are to be found within our communities, within our families, within ourselves. As one of Canada's first Aboriginal child welfare organizations, we celebrated a significant milestone in recent years: relocating a majority of our workers and offices to our communities and thus becoming an essential part of the First Nations we serve. We believe that our role is to be there in the community, mentoring young parents, supporting families who are seeking to regain their equilibrium, but in the end ensuring that children are protected when they need it.

5. Aboriginal Human Resource Council of Canada • The Aboriginal Human Resource Council of Canada exists to advance the full labour market participation of Aboriginal Peoples in Canada and Indigenous Peoples around the world. • The Aboriginal Human Resource Council of Canada creates and markets a wide range of products, services and networks that help Indigenous people advance careers and organizations. They help to create inclusive workplaces that position them as employers-of-choice. We do this through building bridges – with connections, partnerships and solutions – between Indigenous Peoples and business communities.

6. Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (APTN) • Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (more commonly referred to as APTN) is  a Canadian broadcast and cable television network. APTN airs and produces programs made by, for and about Aboriginal Peoples. APTN broadcasts across Canada and is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. APTN airs unique shows with Aboriginal content that would not usually be aired by major Canadian broadcasters.

7. Restorative Justice • Aboriginal communities have begun to use Restorative Justice to rehabilitate (help) Aboriginals who have committed a crime. Restorative justice follows Aboriginal values and focuses on healing rather than punishment. • By participating in a 'sentencing circle', victims and offenders come together with community members to come up with a solution and prevent future crimes from being committed by the offender. Restorative justice is taking place more and more in Aboriginal communities as well as in some courtrooms.