The Wellbeing Project
Partners
Indigenous Services Canada
Health Canada
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Employment and Social Development Canada
Matawa First Nations Management
Ontario Ministry of Energy Mines and Northern Development
Service Canada
Nishnawbe Aski Development Fund
KKETS
This documentary explores community wellbeing in three Northern Ontario Indigenous communities. It gives voice to the youth of those communities who tell their individual stories of community wellbeing and the real-life impact of a federal pilot program that had the power to change their lives.
In February, 2016, Assistant Deputy Ministers from the Department of Indigenous Services Canada, Health Canada, Employment and Social Development Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Chiefs of Webequie, Marten Falls and Neskantaga First Nations (with support from Matawa Tribal Council) agreed to be partners in the Community Wellbeing Pilot Project. The purpose of the project was to accelerate improvements in individual and community wellbeing using a place-based, whole-of-government approach to addressing community-identified priorities. Communities were asked to identify 3 priorities each. All three communities identified Housing as their #1 priority, along with health (mental health and substance abuse), education and water. Early on in the planning process, each community also recognized the need to prioritize strengthening financial management and governance.
Recognizing that communities were not always able to self-organize around available programs or funding opportunities, or that the one-size-fits-all programmatic approach does not always address the needs and circumstances of communities, partners worked to jointly co-develop and co-implement detailed and costed Action Plans for each priority, based on the actual context, needs, and capacities of each community.
The purpose of this documentary is to visually show the impacts and the partnerships built due to the Community Wellbeing Pilot Project. Its purpose was to also give voice to the youth of the three First Nation’s to tell the story of what wellbeing means to them in their community. Outcomes of the project has resulted in 53 new homes, 38 major renovations, a new training centre, local training and employment, more sustainable housing programs, stronger financial management & governance and strong collaboration, partnerships and governance.
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