Working with organizations
Moving forward together
When it comes to supporting urban Indigenous communities in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal, it is imperative to build strong links between the groups supporting the community. This is why the NETWORK’s Community Project Managers (CPM’s) coordinate and facilitate spaces meant for sharing, problem solving and collaborating for organizations that serve the Indigenous populations in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal.
The information gathered during these collective group sessions helps us develop solution pathways aimed primarily at propelling community projects, developing new initiatives, setting up relevant data collection, raising awareness and advocating towards governments for solutions identified by the community.
These committees are presently active:
The C-19 Committee brings together front-line organizations that directly support Indigenous street-communities in order to share information, strengthen partnerships, and coordinate the delivery of services. The organizations meet to identify gaps in services, prioritize needs, develop joint programs, and build sector-wide strategies.
The members of the C-19 Committee are: Projets Autochtones du Québec, The Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, The Indigenous Support Workers Project, The Southern Quebec Inuit Association, The Women’s Center of Montreal, The Makivik Corporation, The First People’s Justice Centre of Montreal, Native Montreal, The Open Door Montreal, Chez Doris, and Plein Milieu.
The Montreal Indigenous Health Advisory Circle (MIHAC) focuses on systemic changes in the health and social service sector, notably the equitable access to health care services for Indigenous community members.
The Circle informs and advises the Provincial Ministry of Health, Public Health Canada, the Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux (CIUSSS) and other government agencies. It advocates for safe access to health care for Indigenous communities in Tiohtià:ke by issuing updates, recommendations, and calls to action.
The members of this advisory Circle are: Quebec Native Women, the Indigenous Health Centre of Tiohtià:ke, Projets Autochtones du Québec, the Native Friendship Centre of Montreal, the Indigenous Support Workers Project, the Southern Inuit Quebec Association, the Makivik Corporation, the First People’s Justice Centre of Montreal, Native Montreal, the Native Women’s Shelter, Médecins du Monde, Plein Milieu and the Direction de la Santé Publique Régional de Montréal (DRSP).
Through establishing and facilitating an Indigenous Organizational Advisory Table (IOAT), the Urban Indigenous Governance Project aims to collectively address challenges faced in serving our communities effectively at the organizational level.
The IOAT enables participants to network and forge partnerships, share best practices, engage in collaborative problem-solving with regards to building organizational capacity, and contribute to the success of future Indigenous organizations.
Additionally, the Urban Indigenous Governance Project focuses on creating an organizational toolbox, ensuring the sustainable growth and support for Tiohtià:ke’s Indigenous non-profit sector.
Sharing Resources
The NETWORK continually applies for funding to be able to address the priorities identified by the community. Through community consensus-based decision-making circles, these funds are then redistributed to Indigenous and Indigenous-serving organizations in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal. The goal of this process is to transform existing decision-making processes to reflect the way Indigenous peoples come together, particularly collective governance founded upon consensus.
In 2021, $3.2 million was redistributed to support 10 organizations, 17 community or structural projects, and 1,110 community members!
The NETWORK also shares funding opportunities with its partners and supports Indigenous organizations by transferring skills related to grant writing and project proposals.
Amplifying voices
In order to support the Indigenous organizations in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal with their promotional needs, the NETWORK facilitates the transfer of knowledge and information sharing.
This allows the Indigenous community to be aware of the available services and resources that meet their needs, and helps them to seize the opportunities available to them.
Through the web and social media, the NETWORK shares community events, employment opportunities, resources, funding opportunities, and advocacy content. We also promote community initiatives, fundraising campaigns and Indigenous businesses.
Are you an Indigenous organization in or around Tiohtià:ke/Montreal? Would you like the NETWORK to spread your message?
Write to us at communications@reseaumtlnetwork.com
