Together for Future Generations: 2022–2027 Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Wellness of the First Nations and Inuit
NationTalk: The 2022–2027 Government Action Plan for the Social and Cultural Wellness of the First Nations and Inuit was announced today by Ian Lafrenière, Minister Responsible for Indigenous Affairs. The plan outlines the Gouvernement du Québec’s new commitments on matters affecting Indigenous communities and reflects an evolution toward nation‑to‑nation relations.
The $141.1 million Action Plan details a total of 52 government measures planned for the next five years divided into six areas, involving 13 government departments and bodies, as well as a number of Indigenous partners. Focus Read include:
CULTURE, INDIGENOUS LANGUAGES AND RECONCILIATION
- Develop, promote and preserve Indigenous languages in Québec (MCC)
- Foster the development of self-supporting learning courses for the transmissionof Indigenous languages (MES)
- Increase assistance for Indigenous media organizations and provide suitable support (MCC)
- Contribute to the vitality and outreach of Indigenous cultures (MCC)
- Issue a call for projects on Indigenous languages, cultural projects for school-agechildren, and Indigenous media (MCC)
- Increase the number of cultural development agreements, strengthen existing agreements, and continue to hire cultural development officers in communities (MCC)
- Support the construction of infrastructures of the “culture centre” type (SAA)
- Implement a campaign to make the Québec population in general more aware of the Indigenous peoples (SAA)
ISSUES AND CHALLENGES FOR INDIGENOUS WOMEN
- Provide emergency financial assistance for victims of violence (MJQ)
- Support the integration of services for Indigenous victims of domestic, family and sexual violence (MJQ)
- Establish a crisis line, a chat-line and referencing line specific to the First Nations and Inuit (MJQ)
- Establish legal services for Indigenous women who are victims of violence (MJQ)
- Establish psychosocial support services, as part of the court process, for Indigenous women who are victims of domestic, family or sexual violence (MJQ)
- Support domestic and family violence projects implemented by Indigenous police forces (MSP)
- Establish specialized intervention services for incarcerated Indigenous women with a history of sexual or conjugal victimization (MSP)
- Support organizations for Cree and Inuit women (SCF)
- Support initiatives that promote the mobilization and leadership among Indigenous women (SAA)
- Assess the needs of Indigenous women subjected to domestic violence and Indigenous children exposed to violence in terms of the residential resources provided in urban environments (MSSS)
OVERALL DEVELOPMENT FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
- Support initiatives that target student retention and the success of Indigenous students (MEQ)
- Implement the program La cour d’école in Indigenous communities (DCPP)
- Support the introduction “Turaartavik” early childhood outreach workers (Agir tôt program) in Inuit communities in Nunavik for children up to six years of age and their families (MSSS)*
- Improve access to and the continuity of culturally relevant and secure perinatal care and services for the First Nations and Inuit (MSSS)
- Support the hiring of community-based, culturally-aware caseworkers in urban environments (MF)
- Help communities become autonomous in the area of child and youth protection by supporting and promoting the signing and implementing of agreements (MSSS)
- Support the adaptation of clinical practices to the realities, cultures and needs of Indigenous children and families (MSSS)
- Ensure that more managers, caseworkers and foster families receive training on cultural security in the area of child and youth protection and community-based services for young people in difficulty, to improve their knowledge of Indigenous realities and enhance their cultural skills (MSSS)
- Implement the recommendations in the Report of the Committee on the Application of Bill 21 in Aboriginal Communities, An Act to amend the Professional Code and other legislative provisions in the field of mental health and human relations (SAA)
SOCIOECONOMIC CONDITIONS AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
- Support projects and initiatives for the retention and educational success of Indigenous school students (MES)
- Help the Société immobilière du Regroupement des centres d’amitié autochtones du Québec implement a new community living project for Indigenous students and their families in Chibougamau (MES)
- Develop basic education programs for English-speaking members of the First Nations and the Inuit in detention (MSP)
- Improve the First Nations and Inuit Faculties of Medicine Program to extend it to other professions and nations (MSSS)
- Provide training for MTESS employees on Indigenous realities (Mikimowin) (MTESS)
- Fund positions for Indigenous employment development liaison officers (MTESS)
- Support joint action among Indigenous youth partners and the implementation of projects with their input (SAJ)
- Support the mobilization, development and support of Indigenous youth (SAJ)
- Continue funding for the program to hire coordinators responsible for communitymobilization, citizen involvement and the promotion of healthy lifestyles (SAA)
- Consolidate and develop the structure of discussion tables to improve Indigenous access to services in urban environments (SAA)
- Introduce direct support for Indigenous students planning to continue in higher education (SAA, MES)
- Fund the upgrading of residential buildings in the community of Kitcisakik to prepare for the electrification of the community by HQ (SAA, MAMH/SHQ)
INDIGENOUS HEALTH AND WELLNESS
- Enhance the accessibility, continuity and quality of services in the realm of general psychosocial, mental health, addiction, homelessness and suicide prevention needs for First Nations members, in particular by supporting the signing of cooperative agreements between communities not covered by an agreement and institutions belonging to the health and social services network in their region (MSSS)
- Invest in solutions for vulnerable people in Montréal, including the homeless, put forward by the Indigenous community (MSSS)
- Support community street patrols working with the homeless population in Montréal (SAA)
- Support the deployment of fifteen additional liaison officers in the health and social services network to strengthen cultural security capacity (MSSS)
- Incorporate cultural security in public health actions targeting health and prevention, including suicide prevention, with the First Nations and Inuit (MSSS)
JUSTICE AND PUBLIC SECURITY
- Offer support and assistance culturally-adapted for Indigenous clientele subject to judicial control in collaboration with specialized organizations (MSP)
- Provide services and conditions for Indigenous people in detention facilities that are more likely to promote a process of rehabilitation or healing, using a culturally- adapted approach (MSP)
- Help maintain a mixed intervention team in Sept-Îles and Indigenous liaison officers in urban environments (SQ)
- Improve services in the court system for the First Nations (MJQ)
- Enhance access to justice in Nunavik (MJQ)
- Support the coordination of FNQLHSSC activities in the area of justice (MJQ)
- Implement an emergency call service pilot project in Nunavik (MSP)
- Provide training on Indigenous realities for criminal and penal prosecuting attorneys in connection with the criminal justice system (DCPP)
The government extensively consulted with First Nations members and Inuit to identify the priority concerns of their communities and ensure that the plan is satisfactory to all stakeholders. The focuses of the Action Plan include nationhood, cultural safety, the Canadian constitutional framework and the Gouvernement du Québec’s responsibilities. Significant emphasis has also been placed on Indigenous languages and cultures and Inuit‑specific considerations.