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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Creation Story ............................................................................................................................................... 3
Goals ............................................................................................................................................................. 4
13 Fires: Racism-impacted topics ................................................................................................................. 4
January: POVERTY ......................................................................................................................................... 6
February: HEALTH ....................................................................................................................................... 10
March: CHILDREN........................................................................................................................................ 12
April: JUSTICE .............................................................................................................................................. 15
May: RELATIONS ......................................................................................................................................... 18
June: MISSING AND MURDERED INDIGENOUS PEOPLES............................................................................ 20
July: WATER ................................................................................................................................................ 22
August: FOOD.............................................................................................................................................. 24
September: EDUCATION ............................................................................................................................. 26
October: MEDIA .......................................................................................................................................... 28
November: HOUSING .................................................................................................................................. 30
December: COMMUNITY ............................................................................................................................ 32

2

 13 FIRES WINNIPEG: CONVERSATIONS ON
RACIAL INCLUSION
Creation story
13 Fires Winnipeg is a group of concerned community members who want to address racism in our city.
13 Fires Winnipeg was formed after Our Summit: Local Racial Inclusion Summit, which took place on
September 17, 2015. The major recommendation coming out of that event was to continue
conversations on race and increase awareness and collaboration of the good work that is already
happening. The event organizers decided to move forward with this recommendation, forming 13 Fires
Winnipeg and committing ourselves to bringing community together each month in 2016.
In traditional Indigenous ceremonies, there's a very important role of helper, and the helpers are often
fire-keepers. We see ourselves, the organizers of 13 Fires Winnipeg, as fire-keepers, and the citizens of
Winnipeg themselves are the Fires. The number 13 refers to the 13 racism-impacted topics that
community members brought forth at Our Summit in September, 2015 and the 13 Fires Winnipeg
launch in December, 2015. This number is also spiritually significant for Indigenous communities on
Turtle Island, referencing the 13 moons on the turtle’s back.
We can't do this alone. Everyone has gifts to share with the community, and we want to work with
people of all walks of life who share our vision for a racially-inclusive Winnipeg. We need everyone in
this fight for a safer, healthier, and more inclusive community.

3

 Goals for the conversation series
1. Bring together diverse communities in order to facilitate better race relations
- Diverse ethnic groups (e.g., Indigenous and Muslim communities)
- Geographically-separated communities (e.g., inner-city and suburban residents)
- Diverse age groups (e.g., high school students and elders), and
- Community members, community workers, and government representatives from
municipal, provincial, and federal levels
2. Provide a platform for community members to share their expertise and influence decisionmaking and action, and for the community to hear each other’s experiences and work
3. Encourage cross-community collaboration in grassroots organizing, community work, and
governance, and help community members find their role in working towards racial and social
inclusion

13 Fires: Thirteen racism-impacted topics
At Our Summit in September, 2015 and the launch of the conversation series in December, 2015,
community members identified and discussed numerous areas in which they see racism in action, and
the solutions they would like to work towards.
13 racism-impacted topics, or “Fires,” were created from these discussions, and will guide the
conversation series. The first Fire was the Launch, and the remaining Fires are outlined below.
For the first four Fires, we will invite groups working on electoral process, decision-making, and get out
the vote for the provincial election.
In all of the Fires, we hope to provide safe space for people to talk about racism they have experienced,
witnessed, and been party to perpetuating; build and improve relationships across communities through
dialogue; and discuss solutions that would address systemic racism.
January: POVERTY on Saturday, January 23, 2016, 3:30-7:30 p.m. at Broadway Disciples United Church
(396 Broadway Avenue), combining discussions on Employment Income Assistance, jobs and
employment, and capitalism
Poverty is a complex social problem with interconnected social, economic, and environmental
considerations, and people living in poverty are disproportionately racialized minorities.

4

 There is huge disparity in the distribution of wealth in Canada and the world – 13 Fires Winnipeg rejects
the “need” for austerity and joins in the call for greater support for those living in poverty, as
championed in the K(NO)W Poverty campaign put forth by Make Poverty History Manitoba.
Furthermore, 13 Fires Winnipeg acknowledges that poverty reduction measures do not challenge the
root causes of poverty. Governments and community organizations must use anti-racist and antipoverty lenses in matters of governance, policy creation, program development and delivery, and
assessment to address the causative relationship between racism and poverty.
In all work to address poverty and social inclusion, it is imperative to consult and collaborate with
community, as was the case in the development of The View From Here 2015 (an updated version of
The View From Here 2009) by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives.
February: HEALTH, combining discussions on health care, mental health, sports and recreation, and
health on reserves
March: CHILDREN, combining discussions on parenting, child welfare, children's rights, kids growing up
in a corrupt way/world, Child and Family Services, and Indigenous cultural divide between core and
suburbs
April: JUSTICE, including policing
May: RELATIONS, including newcomer and Indigenous relations with non-Indigenous Canadians and
newcomer/Indigenous youth relations
June: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples, including women, men, and two-spirited peoples
July: WATER, including environment and water in First Nations communities
August: FOOD, combining discussions on food security, food sovereignty, and nutrition security
September: EDUCATION, including the Indigenous cultural divide between the Winnipeg core and
suburban communities
October: MEDIA
November: HOUSING
December: COMMUNITY, including discussions on working past racist mistakes and building relations
through dialogue

5

 Summary of community discussions and recommended
actions
The remainder of this report shares a summary of the community discussions that formed the 13 Fires.
The summaries and recommended solutions are not exhaustive, but instead reflect the concerns, vision,
calls to action, and commitments of participating community members and the 13 Fires Winnipeg
organizing team.
The hope is that this document will evolve as we engage in monthly conversations on racial inclusion
and take action in our homes, communities, and workplaces -- expanding to reflect further critique,
share initiatives and actions, and celebrate progress and achievement.

JANUARY FIRE: POVERTY
FAST FACTS
Poverty in Canada
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4.8 million Canadians living in poverty (14%)
Over 1 million children living in poverty (18%)
Up to 300,000 people without homes
Up to 1.3 million experienced homelessness in past 5 years
1 in 8 households are food insecure
1 in 10 can’t afford medical prescriptions
Poverty costs Canada up to $84 billion a year
One of highest poverty rates for a core industrialized country

Poverty and Race in Canada
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22% poverty rate for racialized Canadians, compared to 9% for others
50% of First Nations children in poverty, compared to 17% for others
Aboriginal workers earn an average of $19,000 compared to an average $33,000 for other
Canadians
Racialized Canadians earn an average of 81 cents to the dollar what other Canadians earn
More than half of people living in poverty in largest cities are racialized
Number of racialized families living in poverty in Toronto increased 362% from 1980 - 2000, far
greater than their 219% population growth
6

 SUMMARY
Politicians talk about the ever-rising profits and growth of the Canadian economy, but this growth and
profit is not felt by everyone. Wealth inequality, debt and cost of living continue to soar, while wages,
benefits and jobs dwindle. We live in one of the richest countries in the world, one which prides itself on
its progressiveness, and yet millions of Canadians struggle with securing the basic needs of life, including
healthcare, education, housing, food and sanitation. Manitoba has the highest child poverty rate of any
province, with an estimated 1 in 3 children in Manitoba living in poverty.
Poverty is not just a lower income and a lack of resources. It's a complex phenomenon that deprives
people of safety, stability, dignity, and a voice in the cultural and political arenas. Even though most
Canadians don't live in poverty, this issue affects us all for many reasons, and not just because poverty
costs us billions each year. The need to escape poverty is what shapes how we engage with the system,
why we devote ourselves to getting a job and making money.
There is a need for more “real jobs” which participants saw as jobs which provided people with dignity
and the ability to support themselves. Poverty does not exist as a result of laziness or personal failing.
This superstition serves only to shift the blame onto the victim and to obscure the real issues. We have
to consider the systemic roots and causes of poverty, and the consistency with which marginalized and
discriminated groups are pushed into poverty. Many people on employment and income assistance
have physical health problems, diagnosed or undiagnosed mental health problems, abuse of all kinds,
addictions, and many more medical issues. Often, these health concerns have been unattended to for
years and end up with a person needing E.I.A. Use of E.I.A. may also be multi-generational or a
consequence of transitioning out of the care of Child and Family Services. Many racialized people in our
society hold more than one job and still live in poverty and precarity. People are trapped in low-wage
jobs or on welfare, neither of which cover cost of living. In this economy many people are desperate
enough to accept work with low pay and harsh conditions, because losing that job puts you at risk of
chronic unemployment and thus severe poverty. We wouldn’t accept the conditions we’ve put up with if
there wasn’t this looming threat beneath it.
Creating new jobs must go hand-in-hand with developing ecologically sustainable practices. In some
cases the shift to sustainable enterprises may be costly in the short term, but long term thinking is
necessary. For instance shifting away from fossil fuels to more sustainable technologies will be a
challenge for the agriculture industry in Manitoba, but this should not deter decisive action. Projects
such as TransCanada Pipelines “Energy East” project present a risk to local water supplies and it is not in
the interest of the community to have such a dangerous project traverse the municipality. Creating
sustainable jobs cannot be done in an isolated way, but must be seen as part of a shifting economy in
which ecological costs are taken into the accounting process.
People living in poverty are disproportionately racial minorities. Employers are 40 percent more likely to
interview a job applicant with an English-sounding name despite identical education, skills and
experience. In the largest cities, more than half of those living in poverty are people of colour. In
7

 Winnipeg alone, unemployment rates for Indigenous people are double those of the non-Indigenous
population. The labour force participation rate for Indigenous people ages 15-24 is an extremely low 50
percent. The incidence of poverty amongst Indigenous people in Winnipeg is about two and a half times
that of the non-Indigenous population. The impact of racist attitudes can be difficult to identify in hiring
practices since they often work implicitly, with those making race-based choice on who to hire, claiming
that they are unbiased.

SOLUTIONS
Fighting poverty requires understanding the social divisions that keep it alive. Fighting racism also
requires understanding the socioeconomic divisions that keep it alive.
We must transition from a system driven by greed to a society motivated by generosity and caring; our
social order must put “PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT,” as the giant words at the entrance to the North End
once read. To create a world without poverty we must create a society in which all the indicators of
comfort, safety and opportunity are guaranteed to all people: housing, employment, food, education
and healthcare.
We need to confront the separation that more privileged members of society have from the
underprivileged, underserved or exploited. We need to challenge the separation of working people from
the product of their labour and of consumers from the origin of their products. Privileged consumers
must challenge the consumerist ideology which encourages them to follow a prescribed circumstance of
what products they are expected to own.
Because poverty is intersectional and inextricably tied to a number of other factors, ending poverty also
requires addressing the many structural and systemic issues that marginalized groups in poverty: racism,
homophobia, transphobia, addiction, disease, mental illness and physical disability to name a few. We
must tear down the borders which inevitably visit violence upon newcomers and ensure economic
inequality between countries.
System changes
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Work towards minimum income or guaranteed annual income
Increase the number of collectives, cooperatives, and social enterprises
Increase full-time employment
Change narratives around welfare, taxation, and good jobs
Redistribute wealth through government structures, such as taxation

Actions
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Seek out and offer support to social enterprises
Change the outlook of my race through a career in policing
Work to create employment opportunities for Indigenous and newcomer youth
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Organize opportunities for people from the business community to meet people from the
Indigenous community, e.g., hosting a Friday at Meet Me at the Bell Tower
Implement inclusive hiring practices
Implement cultural competency training for employers and employees
Develop training programs directed at small business needs
Develop a city-facilitated employment development process that provides recognition for shortterm employment and mentorship for workers, such as models coming out of the North End
Community Renewal Corporation
Increase EIA funding for basic needs, while maintaining or increasing funding in other areas
Learn more about the realities of living on a low income or accessing EIA

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Make Poverty History
CEDNET
BUILD
Women’s centres
Migranté
Faith groups
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
Ndinawemaaganag Endaawaad
Ka Ni Kanichihk
Urban Circle Training Centre
No One Is Illegal
Industrial Workers of the World
Migrant Solidarity Network
Winnipeg New Socialist Group
Junto Books
Workers
Students and universities
Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition
Unions and labour movement
Communists, anarchists, socialists

9

 FEBRUARY FIRE: HEALTH
FAST FACTS
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1 in 5 women report racism in the healthcare system
A study showed 1 in 5 of the study participants reported that they experienced racism in the
health care system, like name-calling and slurs; 8.6% found doctors to be culturally insensitive or
ignorant; and 6.2% reported receiving an inferior quality of care.
Racism influences health and health behaviours directly through the increased and prolonged
stimulation of the human body’s physiological stress response
37.9 % of indigenous people who partook in the study reported facing racism in the health care
'industry' in the 6 months before taking the survey. A little over half of them reported the
experience having a negative effect, a big chunk of it leading to depression

SUMMARY
Many broad determinants influence the health of all Canadians, including gender, income and social
status, employment and working conditions, health practices, social and physical environments, and
culture. Specific determinants that influence health for racialized groups include Aboriginal status, early
life, education, employment and working conditions, food security, health care services, housing,
income and its distribution, social safety net, social exclusion, unemployment, and employment security.
Racism is considered to be a prominent form of social exclusion. Racism is also recognized as a
contributor to socioeconomic position, a key structural determinant of health. For a lot of people,
racism may be considered a matter of life and death.
Refugees, refugee claimants, and temporary foreign workers continue to experience an increased risk of
mortality and mental health problems. Racial and ethnic health inequities are increasingly being
documented in recent cohorts of racialized immigrants. Immigrants from non-European countries,
primarily Asian, are twice as likely to report declining health as those from European countries. Lowincome and recent immigrants who are members of a racialized group are at increased risk of
transitioning to poor health over time. In terms of mental health, racism appears in the defining and
reporting of terrorism, as well as in the response to people experiencing mental health crises.
Particular health challenges highlighted by participants included diabetes, mental health, and lack of
insurance. There was also significant discussion about stigmas that prevent people from accessing
health care, particularly mental health care, and the problematic focus on illness and treating
symptoms. Alternatively, community members expressed the need for greater city-run sports and
recreation programming in lower-income neighbourhoods. This would a preventative approach to
health and wellness. Local programs would reduce the costs of transportation, increase accessibility, and
keep athletically-skilled children in their home neighbourhoods.
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 CHALLENGES
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Language barriers in accessing proper healthcare
Lack of culturally-appropriate services and cultural sensitivity training for healthcare
professionals and frontline workers, particularly when working with Indigenous and newcomer
populations (women and girls)
Few culturally specific outreach initiatives or service promotion to Aboriginal or racialized
communities
Lack of recognition for non-status immigrants
Poor referral relationships with community agencies
Problematic physical locations and lack of geographical access to care – “I’m afraid to seek care”
Lack of awareness of community and community needs and issues by mainstream institutions
Racial profiling, racist assumptions and stereotyping in psychiatry are often believed to be
strong determining factors in intake, assessment and diagnosis and misdiagnosis
Orientation is generally Euro-centric, lacking in cultural diversity
Illness and symptom-focused health care system
Lack of continuity in care
Lack of supplies and funding, particularly in northern communities and on reserves

SOLUTIONS
System changes
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Development of a provincial strategy specifically focused on improving the mental
health outcomes for racialized and Aboriginal communities
In mental health institutions, greater emphasis on anti-racist organizational change that
is comprehensive (human resources – e.g. equity in hiring, clinical work, partnerships,
resource allocation, systems support, public policy), transparent and accountable. This
includes aggressive equity hiring practices, which target clinical and management staff
from racialized and Aboriginal communities, who are culturally competent;
Consistent monitoring and assessment of the mental health needs of the most
vulnerable in these communities: the poor, women, youth and children and seniors;
Research that is more respectful, culturally appropriate, equitable, inclusive,
participatory (and has members of both racialized communities and Aboriginal
populations involved at every stage) and; that builds community capacity, transfers new
knowledge and leads specifically to better mental health care for community members;
Culturally competent clinical care that incorporates:
Anti-racist/anti-oppression standards and Clinical Performance Accountabilities

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The use of cultural brokers to support cultural interpretation and enhance service
delivery where language support is an issue;
Acceptance of alternative and complementary care as legitimate and appropriate
options for clients;
Services that more fully reflect the needs and wishes of the community;
Innovative and creative health promotion strategies which reflect the need to address
issues like stigma, shame in association with mental illness that affects all racialized
groups and the Aboriginal community;
Access that is informed by the best and most effective partnerships and collaboration
with community agencies, organizations and key stakeholders;
Vigorous sectoral leadership in addressing and challenging racism in psychiatric services,
programming, research and public policy development;
Greater systems advocacy and public policy pressure in addressing the devastating
impact of poverty and racism on the mental health of the community;
Commitment to ensuring that mental health systems integration fully and carefully
considers the range of options for engaging racialized and Aboriginal communities.

ACTIONS
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Create art installations and petitions to bring visibility to discrimination in the healthcare
system
● Create culturally-focused training for frontline health professionals
● Provide more culturally competent and in-touch mental health support that doesn’t
invalidate any culture, faith, or ethnicity
● Increase public discussion of racism as a mental health issue
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Increase awareness of mental illness
Increase federal and provincial funding for mental health related services

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Aboriginal Youth Opportunities and Meet Me at the Bell Tower
NEEDS Centre
Hospitality Housing
Klinic
Crisis Response Centre
Doctors for Refugee Healthcare
Canadian Mental Health Commission
Canadian Mental Health Association

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 MARCH FIRE: CHILDREN
FAST FACTS
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11,000 kids apprehended by Child and Family Services
Over 3000 babies taken from mothers each year
Nearly 90% Indigenous (87%)
25% graduation rate for children involved with CFS
1/3 of funding for education on reserves compared to urban centres

SUMMARY
It takes a community to raise a child.
Raising healthy children requires positive, cultural, and inclusive parenting, safe homes and community
spaces, and a caring and supportive child welfare system mandated to keep family together. Currently,
there are too many ways for youth to move onto the “wrong path” because of the problems that
surround them, including sex trafficking, detrimental impacts of the residential school system and
apprehension by Child and Family Services, lack of connection with cultural teachings and spirituality,
and biased representation of First Nations in media.
We need to adopt and implement recommendations that will address the root causes of these
problems, like the calls to action found in the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
(TRC), and uphold the rights of children as found in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the
Child (UNCRC).
Parenting, education, and support for families are crucial, preventative measures when ensuring the
welfare of children. Education on positive and inclusive parenting could stop the creation of new
generations with racist beliefs, break down stereotypes about parenting, and increase awareness and
respect for the parenting practices of different cultural groups. The same, or even less, money that is
currently used to apprehend children could be used to significantly increase supports available to
parents and families. As one parent said, “Instead of funding my child only, fund our ability to live in a
home.” Proactive supports will have intergenerational benefits for families and communities.
In contrast, the current child welfare system seems to perpetuate apprehension, separation of families,
and children remaining “in care.” Parents and family members frequently face tremendous barriers
when trying to reunite their family. “It’s difficult to find stable, full-time work to prove your ability to
support [the child],” shared one family member. Once children are “in care,” a couple of mothers shared
how much work it was to advocate for their right to see their children. One woman noted that a CFS
worker once told her it was “fine to grow up in CFS care.” A teenage boy who spoke of his experiences
13

 with Child and Family Services would strongly disagree. He found CFS to be “a bad environment to grow
up in” and was happy to be “thinking, living, and working for himself” now that he is on independent
living.
Traditional practices, spirituality and healing were named as important ways to move forward,
particularly for Indigenous peoples and families who have been traumatized by the residential school
system. One member of our groups shared how important it is for her family to go to sweat lodges,
powwows, Sundances, smudge, and pray to the Kitchi Manitou, the Great Mystery: “Our hope is that
there is more love and [that] the seven sacred teachings [be] taught to children and parents in today’s
society.”

CHALLENGES
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Lack of culturally-appropriate education for social workers and service-providers
Loss of cultural identity for Indigenous peoples
Inability to raise children in cultural/traditional ways
Inadequate health care, education, and child welfare services
Profit-driven child welfare system, a result of capitalism
Lack of system literacy, resulting in inability to self-advocate and act on rights
Children, parents, and families not being listened to
Offloading responsibility for child welfare onto provinces

SOLUTIONS
System changes
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Fix jurisdictional responsibility
Adopt recommendations from Truth and Reconciliation final report and the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Adopt the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child
Honour the treaties
Research and pilot positive systems from other jurisdictions, such as extended financial support
available for children in care up to age 25 in the Province of Ontario
Increase mandate to minimize apprehension and increase reunification with families (e.g.,
working with families to avoid apprehension, improving system for finding parents)

Actions
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Share cultural parenting tips, events, teachings, and food
Create and participate in opportunities that empower parents, encourage positive self-identity
building, and develop inter-ethnic family connection
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Increase direct influence of Indigenous peoples in media production
Meet with Minister of Family Services Kerri-Irvin Ross to talk about child welfare
Network with other groups for support
Create art installations and petitions to bring visibility to child welfare
Create culturally-focused parenting programs
Support ongoing community initiatives that promote healthy and strong families
Use every opportunity and interaction to teach children the importance of respect and kindness
for all people and al cultures, as well as the 7 Sacred Teachings
Speak, teach, and listen to traditional languages, including music
Volunteer at Thundbird House
Organize gatherings, pow wows, and sweat lodges as alternatives for youth
Support the West End 24/7 Safe Space Initiative
Support the Phoenix Sinclair Playhouse
Support youth by being the significant person in their life
Educate society about First Nations people and the residential school system
Support family reunification in the current child welfare system
Break the cycle of apprehension in families

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Aboriginal Youth Opportunities and Meet Me at the Bell Tower
Children’s Advocate
Manito Ikwe Cagi’kwe
Healthy Start
New Directions (needs improvement)
Manitoba Children and Youth Opportunities
Plurielles
Service-providers within existing health, child welfare, justice, and education systems

APRIL FIRE: JUSTICE
FAST FACTS
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First Nations peoples are incarcerated at 6-7 times the average rate
In Manitoba, 60% of prisoners in provincial jails are First Nations
70% of women in Manitoba jails are First Nations
75% of youths in Winnipeg’s detention centres are First Nations
24% of Indigenous boys and 36% of girls face incarceration, despite being only 6% of the total
population
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First Nations people 3 times as likely to be charged and sent to court after arrest than nonIndigenous

SUMMARY
The relationship between racialized communities and the Canadian justice system is not merely strained
but totally broken. Marginalized communities are perceived so negatively by police departments and
our courts systems that they are heavily criminalized, facing inordinate and constant detainments,
arrest, charges, trials and incarceration in instances where people from non-racialized backgrounds get
off with lighter sentences, dropped charges, no arrest, or no police interaction whatsoever. People of
colour face constant profiling, stoppages, searches, and questionings merely while walking or sitting
outside. Police forces have a “risk averse” culture, meaning they will stop to question and search people
of colour at the meagerest suspicion.
For non-racialized Canadians, experience with police is largely a friendly and cordial one, with police
offering and representing safety and protection. It may be hard for them to realize that for many people
of colour, police are associated with instances of harassment, danger, violence, and risk. Both the size of
Canadian city's police forces and the rates of incarceration in Canadian provinces are more closely
correlated to the amount of people of colour in the city or province rather than crime rates or
population size.
The racialized group most harmed by the justice system is the Indigenous community. Their treatment
by the justice system speaks to a fundamental inequality to how law and order is enforced in this
country, how our system of law still represents and reproduces colonial power imbalances and
dominances. Indigenous persons are simultaneously "over-policed and under-protected," in the words
of No More Silence co-founder Audrey Huntley.
Interaction with police is a daily form of violence for Indigenous persons, whom police are far quicker to
question, detain, harass, arrest and apply physical force against than other groups. The courts wantonly
incarcerate Indigenous men and women at far higher rates than non-Indigenous citizens, filling our
prisons with our Indigenous brothers and sisters and ignoring their fates for years on end. Physical
detainment and imprisonment are only the larger forms of violence faced by Indigenous persons by the
justice system, but beatings and deaths in police custody are common. Bails are frequently set overly
high for minor offenses, or simply denied.
Policing and prisons are not a protection from violence for Indigenous communities, but a key form of
violence against them. Families are separated and broken up by the prison system — yet another
governmental system which Indigenous communities associate with the separation and breaking up of
families, alongside the child welfare system, and all following in the footsteps of the residential school
system.

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 Indigenous youth are denied the patience and sympathy afforded to other youth. They are not seen as
"troubled" or "rowdy" kids, but as hard-bitten criminals, already adults in their early teens, who must be
locked up. A staggering number of Indigenous youths have interacted with or been placed into jails or
detention centres. The justice system sends a very clear message to Indigenous persons from a young
age: “We are suspicious. We are watching you. We could take you away.”
There are many other serious issues present in how policing occurs in our cities and our society. Beyond
an ingrained racist culture there is ingrained sexism and misogyny. Police continue to enforce the
criminalization and endangerment of sex workers. Police in Canada are beginning to follow the United
States’ example and become increasingly militarized, seemingly shifting into a mode of open
combativeness and antagonism with the citizenry they supposedly protect and serve.
SOLUTIONS
There needs to be a transformation in how we view the police in Canada, shifting from a reductive
lionizing view to a more honest, critical perspective, especially considering and respecting the
Indigenous viewpoint on this issue. There needs to be restrictions and close monitoring of the use of
‘militarized’ police gears, precluding a more comprehensive ‘demilitarization’ of police. There needs to
be more investigation, support and funding into community solutions to crime and restorative justice.
There should be support of whistleblowers and watchdogs in the Winnipeg Police Service to break the
‘blue wall of silence’ and prevent corruption and abuse. Community and civilian oversight must be
rigorous and effective. Winnipeg police must do greater consultation with the Indigenous community,
hear from their councils, face their oversight. There need to be alternatives to 911 so that people in
crisis do not necessarily have to deal with police officers. Police can often be quite triggering and
threatening to deal with for racialized or low-income individuals whose experiences with police are
negative or traumatic. Police are also often sent to deal with mental health crises, while being totally
untrained and unhelpful in those situations.
Beyond the police, there needs to be a reevaluation of our justice system. We need to move towards a
system where we do not enforce laws that punish people for victimless crimes and disproportionately
victimize marginalized people, low-income people and people of colour. The decriminalization of drug
use and sex work is vital. Furthermore our justice system needs to be re-evaluated with the recognition
that it has been historically and systemically a patriarchal, colonial, elitist organization that has ignored
marginalized voices and reinforced the oppression and inequality of our most victimized.
HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Restorative justice organizations
Bear Clan Patrol
Indigenous courts
Meet Me at the Bell Tower – Stop the Violence
Copwatch
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Manitoba Association for Rights and Liberties
Families and support networks
Visible minorities
Individuals living in poverty
Indigenous peoples
Youth
The LGBTQ and trans community
Women
People facing addiction
People with disabilities

MAY FIRE: INDIGENOUS AND NEWCOMER
RELATIONS WITH NON-INDIGENOUS
CANADIANS
DID YOU KNOW?
International students, temporary foreign workers, and sponsored refugees are not told of the struggles
of the indigenous community here and rarely interact?

SUMMARY
Newcomer and Indigenous relations have been strained by harmful stereotypes and a lack of
understanding and solidarity in each other’s struggles. The newcomer community receives very little
information about Indigenous communities upon arriving in Canada. Positive preconceptions quickly
turn into negative stereotypes from limited, personal encounters. When there is orientation around
Indigenous history and issues, it often lacks Indigenous perspectives, presenting from the perspective of
the mainstream, the colonizer’s history. As a result of this lack of understanding, there is a perception of
unfair allocation of resources between Indigenous and newcomer communities and a lack of
understanding about each other’s histories and experiences.
Participants found many similarities in their experiences of racism, particularly at school and work.
Youth also shared about their experiences of being the cultural translators within their respective
families, the ones who would explain to the new system of living they have come to be a part of. They
identified that regardless of the shared experience of disassociation, there is still this huge divide in

18

 relations between them which may be attributed to incorrect information given to them prior to
contact.

CHALLENGES
●
●
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●

Lack of support for solidarity from the government to bridge the two communities together
No proper introduction to the indigenous community in universities (the awesome Kevin Settee
is on that)
Most universities still don’t have an indigenous credit requirement and newcomers are
befuddled regarding its necessity
Biased immigration system that favours applicants who will feed into the current status quo that
keeps the indigenous community at a disadvantage in society
Stereotypes against newcomers and Indigenous peoples

SOLUTIONS
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Involve Indigenous communities in the settlement and orientation activities for newcomers
Create spaces to get to know one another, such as community feasts
Research effective programs from other provinces
Art alliances, sports, cultural programs
Include Indigenous knowledge in citizenship exam
Create visible structures symbolizing Indigenous presence
Become an intercultural city, an idea from the United Kingdom
More scholarships for international students to engage with the Indigenous community
(majoring in Indigenous Studies)
Consult with elders of newcomer and Indigenous groups
More bridgework done to ensure the two communities understand the nuances of each other’s
intersectionalities and cultures

HELPERS AND RESOURCES


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

Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg
MIRSSA
Community Works
IRCOM
Wab Kinew
Manitoba Start
Welcome Place
NEEDS Centre
Rosanna Deer Child and the CBC

19

 JUNE FIRE: MISSING AND MURDERED
INDIGENOUS PEOPLES
FAST FACTS
●
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Indigenous women make up 4.3% of female population but 16% of all female homicide victims
2013: RCMP tells UN they have 363 recorded cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women
Jan 2014: Dr. Maryanne Pearce estimates number at over 800
May 2014: RCMP releases report stating 1,181 cases of missing and murdered Indigenous
women from 1980-2012. Advocates suggest even these numbers are low
December 2014: Stephen Harper says the issue “isn’t really high on our radar”, refuses to call an
inquiry
Over 700 recommendations from over 40 reports were made during these years and ignored
RCMP data states 30% of MMIW are killed by an acquaintance
March 2015: RCMP Chief claims 70% of MMIW are killed by Indigenous men, but refuses to
release data substantiating this
October 2015: Justin Trudeau calls an inquiry into the issue

SUMMARY
The discussion circle for Missing & Murdered Indigenous Peoples originated at Our Summit as the Fire
for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Men. The name was expanded from the more
commonly used Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women to recognize that disproportionate death,
violence and risk also greatly affects men and boys in the Indigenous community — 71% of Indigenous
homicide victims are male. This is of course the flipside of the crisis facing the women of the community,
a nationally recognized tragedy which will finally be the subject of a federal inquiry beginning in the
spring. Indigenous peoples is also inclusive of two-spirited individuals who also face disproportionate
levels of violence. Taken together we see a portrait of a huge demographic of human beings, supposedly
Canadian citizens at that, who have been left behind by our society and our government to face a
terribly inflated risk and constant reality of violence.

The first discussion centered on the increasing rate of missing and murdered women and men
and how the topic has been largely ignored at the federal level. More so, emphasizing that
women are caught between unresponsive systems. The justice system has contributed to
women and men’s increased feeling of insecurity within the community as people have
reported cases of being assaulted by the police and also the number of unresolved cases of
missing and murdered indigenous women. The child and family services continues to create
grounds for homelessness and missing and murdered women cases to flourish.
20

 The lack of social support from the media was also discussed, indicating how the topic of
MMIW is misrepresented causing stigmatization for families dealing with the loss of their loved
ones. Similarly, participants shared the mental, emotional and financial burden that comes with
families trying to locate their family members.
CHALLENGES






Lack of dialogue for about two-spirited people
Policy processes that undermine grassroots action to address missing and murdered
Indigenous peoples
Ideals of masculinity that make men vulnerable to joining gangs thereby susceptible to
injury and assault
Urban poverty creating grounds for participating in sex work
Unsupportive health care system for people experiencing violence

SOLUTIONS
A deep shift in our culture and values are needed in Canada to overcome this tragic epidemic.
Indigenous women must go from being seen as disposable to being seen as human beings, as figures of
power and respect with a deeply important role to play not just in Indigenous society but in Canadian
society. We must resurrect the figure of the matriarch that was once an important part of the cultures
and traditions in these lands, and overcome hundreds of years of colonial Euro-western culture silencing
and marginalizing women. Indigenous women face dual oppression in our society, experiencing not only
racist and misogynist violence from the rest of society, but also lateral violence from men in their own
communities. This misogyny is not a part of Indigenous culture or understanding, but a result of the
harms of internalized colonialism. There must be grandmothers councils and women’s clan teachings.
We must overcome the internalized notion that the village has been destroyed and cannot be rebuilt.
Indigenous women across Winnipeg and Canada are taking back their long-robbed power and leading
the way in both struggle and healing.
Actions
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Get involved in Indigenous-led organizations in my neighbourhood
Bring 5 voters to a poll
Attend and bring people to ceremony
Continue to educate society on First Nations, particularly the residential school system
Attend lots of walks and spread the word about missing people

21

 HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Families First Foundation
Coalition of Families of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women of Manitoba
Manitoba Moon Voices
We Care Campaign
Families of Sisters in Spirit
It Starts With Us
No More Silence

JULY FIRE: WATER
SUMMARY
Most Canadians would be shocked if they understood the water crises that affect so many First Nations
communities - a shock that would hopefully galvanize action. Many First Nations communities across the
country have been put into constant water crises because of inadequate infrastructures, pollution from
extraction and development projects close to reserves, and larger city systems that have interfered with
water access. When these water crises are being caused by extraction and development projects, farms
in the vicinity of these reserves are also being negatively affected.
Some Manitoban communities include Grassy Narrows, Peguis First Nation, and Shoal Lake #40.
Contributors to the conversation who had lived in or had relatives in Peguis and Grassy Narrows
explained that most reserves are dependant on water tanks, as there are no systems piping in water. A
member of Peguis First Nation explained that they are expected to consume water that is clearly
contaminated with rust and dirt, and that they generally do not have basic sanitation systems (like
running water or toilets). According to this member, essential sanitation issues have a grave effect on
youth’s sense of self, as they grow up in unclean conditions, and end up feeling dehumanized.
One community with a direct connection to Winnipeg is Shoal Lae #40, an Ojibwa First Nation that
bridges the Eastman region of Manitoba and the Kenora district of Ontario. Winnipeg draws its water
from Shoal Lake 40 territory, yet their own access to safe water, as well as safe transportation has been
obstructed since the city’s aqueduct was created in 1919. Because their water source has been
contaminated, they rely on bottled water, which they collect and distribute themselves within the
community. Their main access is a waterway which serves either as an ice road, or a ferry/or boat
passage; the dangerous transition period during the year as the ice begins to thaw has seen 9 deaths in a
community of just over 500.

22

 There has been a long campaign to create an all-weather access road, called Freedom Road, which
would provide safe access to Shoal Lake 40, as well as enable the building of a water treatment plant on
their lands.
Throughout the summer of 2015, AYO hosted Water Wednesdays, which brought out Indigenous and
non-Indigenous Winnipeggers to learn about the water issues facing Indigenous and isolated
communities in the region. The meetings included speakers from various communities and organizations
(Shoal Lake 40, UWSA), and also fostered broader community awareness through demonstrations.
A Winnipeg Water Walk in Support of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation was held on September 12, 2015, partly
to encourage the federal government to fund the final $10 million needed to build Freedom Road (the
municipal and provincial governments have committed to $10 million each). The walk went all the way
from the Legislative Building to Stephen Juba park, and was attended by around 800 people. Finally, in
December, 2015, all three levels of government committed to funding Freedom Road.
A lot of these issues have not been attended to in public discourse and media, in part because of
misconceptions about how pristine Northern communities are. One participant in the discussion called
such biases “racial blame” - where the Indigenous community is blamed for the problems their
community faces with water access.
CHALLENGES
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Impact of resource development on Indigenous peoples and communities is being ignored
Lack of clean water in First Nations communities
Newcomers acquiring stereotypes about Indigenous peoples and issues
Lack of awareness about Indigenous issues

SOLUTIONS
System changes
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Commit to providing clean water access for all First Nations communities
Build Freedom Road to Shoal Lake #40
Build water treatment facility for Shoal Lake #40
Recognize Indigenous land rights

Actions
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Educate the public about the urgency and realities of these issues, including public school
education and newcomer orientation
Create greater exposure for water issues through mainstream media, social media, and the
justice system
23

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Write to MLAs to voice our concerns
Lobby politicians to invest in adequate water systems
Help improve relations between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities
Visit Shoal Lake #40’s Canadian Museum of Human Rights Violations
Organize a Winnipeg Water Wednesday event in your school or neighbourhood

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Friends of Shoal Lake #40
First Nations
Federal, provincial, and municipal governments (funding for Freedom Road)
Council of Canadians
Kairos
Aboriginal Youth Opportunities

AUGUST FIRE: FOOD
SUMMARY
FOOD BANKS TO FOOD SECURITY -- Food insecurity impacts urban and remote communities, particularly
First Nations, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, and other marginalized
groups. Areas of focus in addressing food insecurity include sustainable accessibility, food production,
procurement, and transportation, nutritional education, and morbidity and mortality related to chronic
diseases. Systems impacting food security and nutrition are health care, the market economy (i.e.,
commercialization of cheap junk food, temptation through advertising), and income and employment.
Challenges and barriers to achieving food and nutrition security include stigma associated with accessing
services, excessive focus on emergency measures, mental health problems, gender inequality, lack of
housing, income, education, or social supports, and intergenerational trauma.
For example, a story was provided by an Indigenous, middle-aged, single mum with four children who
lives in Winnipeg. She was experiencing depression; had minimal income to support her family and buy
healthy groceries; had little knowledge on convenient healthy recipes and gardening skills given limited
resources and time to cook and learn these skills; and she did not have a group of friends and family to
support her lifestyle of eating healthy. It was difficult to engage her kids in healthy eating practices. This
exacerbated her feelings of guilt that she could not provide her kids with these basic necessities the way
she would have liked her parents to have given her when she was younger. She did not learn to eat
healthy foods, which she attributed to her parents going to residential schools and not learning childrearing and healthy food practices. The neighbourhood she lived in had very little options for food

24

 choices. Housing policies in the apartment building she lived prevented individuals from growing their
own gardens, which was a barrier as well as personally discouraging.
Food security will be achieved when everyone has access to affordable, culturally appropriate, and
healthy food - particularly in inner city and northern communities. Sites for action and change include
grassroots activism, supporting the local food sector, returning to traditional or cultural food practices,
education on food production and preparation, development of more inclusive programming, policy
reform and change, and increased transparency. Policy change refers to organizational and jurisdictional
policies that determine how and when people have access to food or services, and how Winnipeg
addresses health outcomes related to food insecurity. Examples include policies around food
procurement or living allowances provided by Employment and Income Assistance.
CHALLENGES

● Lack of education on nutrition, food preparation, and food production
● Lack of financial and physical access to nutritious foods and food stores, creating “food
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deserts,” particularly in the inner city
Lack of culturally appropriate foods for newcomers to Canada and individuals from rural areas
or First Nations in Manitoba
Disproportionate rates/risk of diabetes and other chronic disease such as renal failure, obesity
and heart disease for racialized groups in particular (e.g. First Nations)
Lack of access to health care and renal health centres for rural and First Nations communities
Lack of access to mental health services and social support networks
Jurisdictional ambiguity in policies related to delivery of health services for First Nations
Lack of supports to foster healthy parent-child relationships
Lack of engagement between governments and citizens to address food and nutrition security

SOLUTIONS
Principles

● Be proactive in addressing issues related to food security and nutrition
● Ensure solutions are sustainable and grounded in local knowledge and the needs and
aspirations of the community
● Build on, improve, and coordinate existing services when possible to support food security
● Ensure that solutions aim to achieve equity and social justice in food security and nutrition
Actions

● Empower and support citizens to engage in grassroots activism and advocacy that demand for
accountability and action from corporations, governments, and communities
25

 ● Support community-led events that engage people in dialogue about food security and food
●
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sovereignty, and platforms for intra-community communication and dialogue
Provide community-specific and community-led educational programs for gardening, cooking,
and nutrition, and create social networks and youth-elder training workshops on nutrition
Reform low-income housing policies to support individuals to grow gardens
Support the development community gardens
Ensure equitable access to nutrition-related and food services
Document and make available community resources and policies related to food security and
nutrition services

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Food Matters Manitoba
Winnipeg Harvest
Winnipeg Food Share
Norwest Co-operative Community Food Centre
HungerCount 2015: A comprehensive report on hunger and food bank use in Canada, and
recommendations for change by Food Banks Canada
Nutrition North (Federal Government) subsidizes food costs for North West Company
Affordable Food in Remote Manitoba (AFFIRM) through Health Living (Provincial Government)
School food programs and other non-governmental organizations and community programs

SEPTEMBER FIRE: EDUCATION
SUMMARY
IMPACT OF RACISM IN EDUCATION -- Racism is perpetuated and produced by the education system in
many ways. Inaccurate and incomplete narratives of colonial and capitalist histories, the legacy of the
residential school system, lack of diversity in educators, and narrow understandings of what education
looks like all perpetuate racism, and result in poor student achievement, as seen in low graduation rates,
poor self-confidence and self-efficacy, and exclusion from school communities, as well as disconnection
from the school system, particularly amongst newcomer parents and Indigenous students. Additionally,
policies and budgets perpetuate a sense of meritocracy, and when there is innovative policy and
programming, there is often still a gap between policy and classroom practice.
A related problem is the Indigenous cultural divide between core and suburban communities. While
there are different worldviews and outlooks in the core and suburbs, it is still important to include an
Indigenous worldview in suburban education. There is a lack of funding and support, and difference in
accessibility, for Indigenous programming in suburban schools and educational centres. Regardless of
26

 suburban location, it is still important to have cultural representation on parent committees, for
Indigenous students to receive land-based teachings, and for schools to address racism and pressure
experienced by Indigenous youth.
CHALLENGES
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Poor student achievement, as reflected in low graduation rates and low self-confidence and selfefficacy, and exclusion from school community
Policies and budgets are impacted by / perpetuate a sense of meritocracy
Gap between policy/innovative programs and what’s happening in the classroom
Very narrow understanding of what education looks like
Lack of diversity in educators
Legacy of residential school system
Newcomer parents find connection with school difficult
Inaccurate and incomplete narrative of history, particularly regarding colonialism and capitalism

SOLUTIONS
System changes
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●

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Provide more effective professional development for educators and administrators
Expand definition of what a classroom is and who is an educator
Increase support for access programs to make education more accessible
Provide language support for newcomer families, not just students, as well as students coming
from reserves
Provide more courses on cultural proficiency, cultural literacy, and intercultural competence
Improve supports for newcomer students, particularly to share stories with school
Incorporate land-based education into suburban schools
Rewrite curriculum to incorporate Indigenous ways of knowing and race education throughout
the curriculum, not as an add-on, such as the impact of colonialism, treaty education, and
multicultural understandings and perspectives
Make it mandatory in education to learn about Indigenous ways

Actions
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Learn more about where you come from
Attend ceremony with friends and family
Learn about Indigenous music and teach others
Keep traditional language in the community
Become more comfortable in my skin and my community
Listen more, learn more, and challenge colonialism around me
Learn more about treaties
27

 ●
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Keep out of trouble
Educate those around me and stand up against racism and stand with brothers and sisters of all
kinds

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Louis Riel School Division
Truth and Reconciliation Commission
Treaty Relations package

OCTOBER FIRE: MEDIA
FAST FACTS
●

●

In a study of ethnic minorities’ representation in Canadian entertainment programmes,
MediaWatch monitored eight made-in-Canada dramatic series and discovered that only 4% of
the female characters and 12% of the male characters were from diverse ethnic or racial
backgrounds.
In a study, out of the 895 news stories published in those papers, only 14% discuss minorities at
all, which is dramatically less than the 20% share of the population ethnic minorities occupy in
the combined population of the five cities where the newspapers are published (Vancouver,
Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, and Montreal).

SUMMARY
It can’t be stressed enough that the media play a crucial role in shaping and influencing society
and the racist stereotypes that can fester in it. They provide us with definitions about who we
are as a people, reinforce our values and norms and they give us concrete examples of what
happens to those who transgress these norms. The media perpetuates certain ways of seeing
the world and peoples within our Winnipeg. The media informs us that there is a core group of
which we are a part, a core that defines the social order, and that it is in our interest to
maintain its health.
The advertising shown feeds into harmful stereotypes that shape government policies that
infect every part of Winnipeg and beyond. The media see themselves as the "fourth estate" reporting on issues of concern to the citizens of the nation. They defend their position on
grounds of neutrality, objectivity and balance. They are there to present the "facts" as these are
28

 played out in any arena of social life. Media outlets from CTV to CBC claim that they provide the
best possible explanation of issues that occur in society.
The media do not stand in isolation from the Winnipeg society and the racism that persists
within it on which they report. In fact, they are an integral part of society. They fish from the
same pool of knowledge that is part of that pool common sense" which informs all of our lives.
This pool of common sense knowledge is a reservoir of all our unstated, taken-for-granted
assumptions about the world we live in. It is filled with historical traces of previous systems of
thought and belief structures and most of us are aware how nastily racist our past is, from
residential schools to xenophobic treatment of the Japanese.
The way in which the media positioned and represented peoples who were/are construed as
different has been shaping the way we see our neighbours. That difference covered the entire
span of racialized peoples. Any difference was constructed as a negative sign and imbued with
connotations of threat, invasion, pollution and the like. People who were different were
positioned as "others." Anything to feed the Us vs. Them mentality.
CHALLENGES
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Lack of representation in media-from actors to writers to reporters
Lack of support and funding for independent media
Lack of awareness on how to critically assess articles and coverage on events
Biased reporting
Sensationalized stories

SOLUTIONS
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Increase positive media representation for the indigenous community and cultural validation
Increase funding for independent media like Red Rising magazine
Hold the media more accountable for misrepresentation and errors and the consequences of
them
Provide legal aid so independent media don’t get pushed around by the bigger fish

Increase direct influence of Indigenous peoples in media production

29

 NOVEMBER FIRE: HOUSING
SUMMARY
Access to housing is essential to a basic standard of living in Winnipeg. The right to shelter is enshrined
in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and yet the Winnipeg Street Census documented at least
1 400 people experiencing either “absolute homelessness1” or “concealed homelessness2” on the night
of October 25th, 2015. The causes of homelessness are diverse - those surveyed in the Street Census
cited reasons such as family breakdown, transition from CFS care and addiction. However, these diverse
causes have disproportionately racialized impacts - fully 71% of the homeless population in Winnipeg
identify as Indigenous.
Housing is a broad issue, both on its own and in the ways it intersects with racism and discrimination.
The issues raised were accordingly broad. Individuals spoke to experiences with “slum landlords” in
Winnipeg’s North End, who neglect their properties and fail to maintain a basic standard of living, caring
only about payment of rent. This problem is hard to document formally, but is so frequently recounted
anecdotally that a systemic issue is very likely the reality.
Many people in Winnipeg face a one-two punch of unaffordable rents and inadequate welfare incomes,
issues which serve to highlight the deep intersections that exist between Fires. 37% of Winnipeg renters
spend more than one-third of their income on rent alone - this exacerbates poverty, cutting into
disposable income to be spent on food, clothing and other necessities. Furthermore, the unpredictability
of life in poverty negatively impacts access to “legs up” to stability, such as training, education and
employment.
Discussion identified the Indigenous community as bearing the heaviest burden when it comes to
housing. The aforementioned issues have all been documented as impacting Indigenous peoples at
much higher rates than others. Coupled with the impact of barriers unique to Indigenous peoples - such
as one person’s story of leaving their reserve due to a lack of housing, only to encounter the exact same
problem in the city - and it becomes clear that access to housing is a racial issue.
There are many ways to address housing issues. The most obvious are talked about often, but have yet
to be practiced to a significant way, such as heavy investment in affordable housing downtown and in
the North End and research in to the sustainable, accessible housing innovations. Participants also
identified the need for a means to better hold landlords accountable to the maintenance of standards of
living as well as a renewed focus on co-operative housing projects that give people opportunities to help

1

Either living on the street or staying in an emergency shelter,
Wherein one would be homeless if not for temporary shelter in a private home, an institution or in
transitional housing.
2

30

 each other. There are many positive examples of housing innovation to draw from - foremost among
them is the Housing First initiative being undertaken in cities across the world.
CHALLENGES
●
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“Slum landlords” caring only about rent
Shortage of affordable housing
High rates of homelessness disproportionately affecting Indigenous peoples
Welfare income is too low to cover rent and other living expenses
High rents consuming more than one-third of income
Lack of support transitioning out of CFS
Low/no access to housing exacerbates poverty & creates instability
Discrimination and racism

SOLUTIONS
Principles
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●
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Ensure that access to housing is prioritized by the welfare system
Account for racialized impact of housing access when designing policy
Clearly define core standards for housing - establish benchmarks for affordability, size and
quality

Actions
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Support innovative research in to provision of housing
Empower and fund communities and organizations looking to build up co-operative housing
opportunities
Establish and enforce clearly defined standards for landlords
Stop subsidizing outward growth (suburbs), start subsidizing upward growth (downtown and
North End)
Reform welfare system to ensure people can access basic needs
Study high rents in Winnipeg, looking for causes and solutions
Better support those transitioning out of CFS care
Establish transition programs for newcomers to Winnipeg
Provide more shelters, training programs and employment opportunities for those experiencing
poverty and homelessness
Provide consistent access to mental health services and addictions treatment regardless of
income level

31

 HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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Winnipeg Street Census
Aboriginal Health and Wellness Centre
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives - Manitoba
Canadian Mental Health Association Winnipeg
EAGLE Urban Transition Centre
Institute of Urban Studies
John Howard Society of Manitoba
Lived Experience Circle
Macdonald Youth Services
Main Street Project
Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata Centre
Mount Carmel Clinic
Resource Assistance for Youth
Rossbrook House
Salvation Army Booth Centre Winnipeg
Siloam Mission
Social Planning Council of Winnipeg
Spence Neighbourhood Association
Sunshine House
West Central Women’s Resource Centre
Winnipeg Poverty Reduction Council/End Homelessness Winnipeg

DECEMBER: COMMUNITY
SUMMARY
Building relationships with each other and strengthening our cross-community relationships are
important parts of creating a more racially-inclusive city.
One way to build community is to increase opportunities for north and south end residents to come
together and learn about each other. It would be particularly important for south end residents to visit
the north end and meet local residents, learn about their lives, and see what is happening in the
community, as many north end residents find it difficult to meet visitors elsewhere as they are often so
busy trying to meet the challenges of everyday life. One existing opportunity is Meet Me at the Bell
Tower, organized by Aboriginal Youth Opportunities.

32

 Another way to build community is to move beyond our racial mistakes, those times when we choose
the wrong words or act in ignorance, which often leads people to refrain from engaging someone
different from them or withdraw from a relationship or environment. Instead, we must commit to
learning from those mistakes and find ways to dismantle stereotypes and replace them with respectful
knowledge. Politically correctness often prevents people from having genuine conversations with one
another, as people are afraid of offending someone in their pursuit of knowledge and learning. We tend
to attack people the minute that they say something ‘wrong,’ but we cannot move forward in our race
relations as a community if we do not give individuals room to grow from ignorance to intelligence.
CHALLENGES
●
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●
●

Political correctness
Fear of offending
Powerful stereotypes
Education systems that perpetuate racism

SOLUTIONS
Principles
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●

Emphasize and celebrate the positive, while acknowledging and addressing the negative
Increase people’s exposure to the inner city
Plan for intergenerational learning
Acknowledge that there racism is in Winnipeg, and that this is not a personal attack

Actions
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●

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Create and attend opportunities that bridge different peoples, including north and south end
communities, such as Meet Me at the Bell Tower and Winnipeg Centre Vineyard drop-in
Make, rather than wait, for opportunities to visit another community and learn more about each
other
Visit elders or invite elders to events
Work with allies to challenge close-mindedness, particularly for newcomer communities who
are told by governments to fear the north end and the Indigenous community
Talk to people on the bus about racism and its impacts on generations
Educate other White people about their privilege and how to avoid speaking over or for people
of colour
Increase involvement with diverse groups, such as organizations working towards better
inclusion of Indigenous communities
Make more of an effort to weave anti-racism into my teaching
Address internalized racism
Build and strengthen anti-racist initiatives
33

 ●
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●

●
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Speak up/out when people make racist comments
Learn how to move past or forgive racial mistakes
Recognize that we all have prejudice
Listen to “I have racism in me” by Cornel West
Keep a racism journal to document everyday challenges with racism
Talk to someone who makes me uncomfortable
Stay open-minded
Teach traditional languages to others
Use privileged voice and position in society
Form support systems outside the government systems
Listen better, make more eye contact, and learn other people’s stories
Engage myself and others in effective dialogue
Create and recognize safe spaces to have conversations about our diversity
Say hi to people different from myself, or to people who might share my cultural identity whom
I don’t know
Get to know and help my neighbour

HELPERS AND RESOURCES
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●
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Aboriginal Youth Opportunities
Kairos
Islamic Social Services Association

34