Media Advisory - Conference Board of Canada media availability—report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur

Centre for the North research provides successful approaches to socio-economic challenges for the Aboriginal population

OTTAWA, May 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Anja Jeffrey, Director, Centre for the North, The Conference Board of Canada is available to speak to media about approaches that are tackling some of the challenges identified in The situation of indigenous peoples in Canada, released today by the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, James Anaya.

For five years, the Centre for the North has served as a forum for research and dialogue on Northern and Aboriginal issues. Recent research, Building on our Strengths: Aboriginal Youth Wellness in Canada's North, examined a range of strategies that Northern Aboriginal communities are pursuing to support youth wellness. Three case studies provide practical examples of success in Canada's provincial and territorial North:

• Winnipeg Aboriginal Sports Achievement Centre North;
• Makimautiksat Youth Wellness and Empowerment Camp, and
• Northwest Territories' Take a Kid Trapping program.

In the Aboriginal fly-in community of Whatì, Northwest Territories, the Conference Board worked with the Band Council and community members to create a community resilience plan. Resilient communities are better equipped to meet the needs of its residents, they are self-reliant and able to take advantage of economic opportunities like resource development. The project helped Whati identify its strengths and weaknesses, preparing the community for a new mining project opening up on its doorstep. The results were published in Building Community Resilience in Whatì, Northwest Territories.

The December 2012 report, Framing Sustainable Options for Housing in Canada's North, examined innovative approaches and partnerships that are successfully tackling the high costs of building and maintaining housing, including:

• The Nunavut Housing Corporation's private sector partnership with Kott North to design 142 public housing units for 19 communities across the territory;
• The multi-sectoral partnership between The Holmes Group, Assembly of First Nations, and the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek to investigate the delivery of sustainable housing options on reserves; and
• The Northern Teacher Education Program in La Ronge, Saskatchewan, to discuss the building of affordable, high-quality, non-profit student housing.

SOURCE: Conference Board of Canada

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