Parent Child Coalition - The Parent/Child coalition is funded by Healthy Child Manitoba. This program is the umbrella to several other programs offered through the Parent Child Coalition.  All programs are free and offered to community members and surrounding communities. We partner with WRHA, Parent Child Coalition, FACT and other Healthy Child Programs. Our focus is to provide parents with the skills and tools of positive parenting and creating healthy bonding relationships with their children.

 

 

Nobody’s Perfect - This program incorporates education, literacy, parenting enhancement skills, nutrition and culture into an eight week curriculum. Participants must pre-register, and can self-enrol; however, referrals to the program are also made by various Child & Family agencies in an attempt to begin the child reclamation process. This Program will be starting up in the fall.

 

Ballet, Belly Bounce - The Ballet, Belly, Bounce program is held at Turtle Island Community Centre every Monday all year round. Some of the skills/activities covered with the families include family bonding, guest speakers on a variety of topics, outdoor activities, outings, singing, dancing and storytelling. Included is a light, healthy snack.

 

Elders Group - This program will begin again in the fall. Activities to include star blanket making and short outings; lunch will be provided.

 

Birthday Book Program - The Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg has once again partnered with Families and Communities Together (F.A.C.T.) in the Birthday Book Program. This program is able to provide a reading book, book bag and a bookmark for every child in the 14 schools that participate. The Birthday Book program has received numerous accolades, including an international Literacy award. Other organizations have adopted our model and plan to implement it in their own endeavours.

 

Outreach/Family Support - Community Outreach is vital to the Friendship Centre as it is designed to help community members and their families address the surrounding and ongoing issues that affect their lives. The Outreach Family Support Worker helps individuals and families with proper referrals and support. We help with situations such as: traditional guidance, domestic violence, abuse, grievance, counselling, medical attention, advocacy, housing, employment, education, emergency food, and addictions to drugs and alcohol.

 

Outreach/Community Building - Drawing on the success of the Outreach Family Support efforts, Outreach and Community Building was implemented to institute a series of workshops and increase group activities for community residents. Workshops relating to diabetes prevention, addictions, healing, and more are being developed. Community celebrations are also being developed to allow residents a place to gather and become familiar with one another, garnering a greater sense of community.

 

Girls Empowering Together (G.E.T. Program) - The G.E.T. program was designed to address the growing issues that young women and girls face in today’s society. Focussing on increasing the self-esteem of young women, this program provides activities that encompass hygiene, drug and alcohol awareness, leadership and mentorship. It also provides peer-to-peer support and invites women speakers from various walks of life. The program works in partnership with North Point Douglas Women’s Resource Centre and Weston Community Centre.

 

The Joseph “Beeper” Spence Youth Drop In Centre/Lighthouse Program - Lighthouse and Joseph “Beeper” Spence Youth Resource Centre operates through self-generated funds, lotteries and Manitoba Justice.

 

The Youth Resource Centre operates as a safe place for youth to gather and enjoy an after school meal. Youth are able to utilize computers and play a variety of educational games.

 

Partnerships with Rotary, Urban Green Team, and Young Canada Works have given the youth opportunities to learn and enhance leadership skills. Through a partnership with Ma Mawi Centre, the solvent abuse program continues to provide youth with education and preventative measures to help steer clear of drugs and alcohol.

 

A book reading and homework club operate throughout the school year. This creates a positive interaction with literacy, teaching the kids that book reading can also be considered a hobby, not just a school activity, while the homework club gives children a place to get help and understanding with their school work.

 

The youth have formed a baseball team which has taught them a great deal about sportsmanship and team building; other sports played include basketball, soccer and fishing.

 

Cultural teachings and ceremonies the youth have been involved in include: traditional teachings, sweat lodge, naming ceremonies, full moon ceremonies, as well as learning how to be “Fire Keepers”.  

 

Sweet Grass & Little Braids Healthy Baby Program - The Sweet Grass and Little Braids Healthy Baby Program is funded through Healthy Child Manitoba. The program revolves around nutrition and prenatal skills for pre-and post natal women. A community health nurse aids in teaching young mothers how to care for themselves and their babies, while our program worker Sherri Sinclair, employs activities that enable the young and expecting mothers skills to interact and bond with their children.

 

Neechi Music Program - Billy Joe Green, who is a well known and talented music performer, volunteers his time to teach various musical instruments and read music. Youth of all ages are in the Neechi music program, but because Billy Joe is the only volunteer teaching the youth, it is limited to 12 to 15 youth per year. This program will once again be offered in the fall.  

 

Open Arms Community Soup Kitchen - Open Arms Community Soup Kitchen currently operates once a week. All food for the community kitchen is supplied by Winnipeg Harvest. The kitchen provides a hot lunch to community residents and families. This is a good way for bringing the community out to meet and greet their neighbours and meet the staff at IMFC. This program is offered every Thursday from 12:00 noon to 1:00 PM.

 

Youth Leadership (“Flying Eagle Feather Youth Council”) - The IMFC have formed an Aboriginal Youth Council. IMFC are still encouraging more youth to join. The youth council meet every second Wednesday to discuss ideas for activity fundraising. This gives the youth the opportunity to have input on the services provided for youth, as well as teaching them the fundamentals of board governance, which in turn will help them become the leaders of our community for the future.

Pow Wow Club - The Pow Wow club operates through the Friendship Centre in partnership with Ma Mawi Centre. Cultural songs and dances are taught to youth and their family members; all participants are welcome. The youth make their own regalias and ribbon shirts. Pow wow club is offered every Tuesday and Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM.

 

Winnipeg Harvest - Winnipeg Harvest provides approximately 150 - 200 registered community members with food hampers twice weekly at the Harvest site at the Indian and Métis Friendship Centre of Winnipeg.

 

Annual Christmas Party - The Indian & Métis Friendship Centre is host to an annual Christmas meal and gift giving initiative. Families from the community come together to enjoy a Christmas feast that some may or may not get otherwise. Over 400 children are provided with a Christmas Gift from Santa.

 

Winnipeg Police Spring Feast - Each year in April the Winnipeg Police hold a community spring feast. The purpose of the feast is to bring the community together and create healthy partnerships with community members and the Winnipeg Police. Over 600 people were in attendance this year at the 18th Annual Winnipeg Police Spring Feast celebration. The community members enjoyed a wonderful feast served by the Chief of Police and over 40 Officers and volunteers. Everyone in attendance enjoyed stew, bannock, fresh fruit, milk, juice and cake.