All wise groups seek input from those who are affected by their actions. When PWRDF plans a project it does just that.
PWRDF has formed a consultative group for actions that affect the Canadian Indigenous communities.
PWRDF’s Indigenous Program Advisory Committee (IPAC) includes representatives from the Anglican Council of Indigenous Peoples (ACIP).
A brief bio of the members of IPAC can be found at: pwrdf.org/indigenous-program-advisory-committee
ACIP’s participation in the group is important because of its role in the Indigenous community. It’s our guess that many people have not even heard of ACIP. So let’s do some demystifying.
ACIP was formed during the second half of the 19th century and its current membership is drawn from Indigenous people across Canada. One of the criteria for membership is to be Indigenous.
Since its formation ACIP’s goal has been to work towards self determination of the community of Indigenous peoples within the Anglican Church of Canada. More about ACIP and also our Indigenous partners can be found on the Anglican church website. www.anglican.ca/about/ccc/acip
There is so much we can learn from and about the Indigenous people. All people have needs, but doing things for others may be seen as implying that those others are inferior.
People often need tools not others taking over! PWRDF’s new venture tries to do just that.
With the Indigenous Responsive Program, PWRDF is fundraising to create a bank of funds which the Indigenous community can access to carry out their own projects, to be developed and managed by themselves.
We provide the general funds and the choice of the use of those funds is made by the Indigenous people as they apply for monetary support in one of four predetermined areas. These are:
• Community Health – programs aimed to foster awareness, educate, deliver and support to the Indigenous community in areas/sectors such as suicide and addictions prevention, family violence, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), HIV and AIDS, mental health promotion, traditional caregivers, midwives and doula/birth work support, etc.
• Youth Engagement – initiatives that promote knowledge, expertise, empowerment, self-sufficiency and practice of traditional cultural values, such as youth self-esteem and identity strengthening, leadership and entrepreneurship training and development, revitalization of their culture and language through connections to the land, knowing their history and values, etc. We affirm partners’ priority on youth’s aspirations for the future.
• Climate Action – programs that assess and promote alternatives, opportunities and development of training and job creation in areas of Indigenous farming, trapping, fishing activities, including dissemination of community findings as response to climate change).
• Safe Water – programs that support work experience and training on maintenance and operation of drinking water infrastructure, including water treatment plant; as well as skills development in installation of water and wastewater systems as part of local strategic initiatives aimed to ensure safe, clean, drinking water in Indigenous communities).
A brief description of this venture can be found in the World of Gifts, and more on the PWRDF website www.pwrdf.org.
Montreal PWRDF will work hard through 2021-2022 to raise funds for this Program. Posters and other tools will be available to churches and other groups.
Contact Ros Macgregor ([email protected]), Ann Cumyn ([email protected]) or your local PWRDF rep for information.
