RCAP 98 contains files for a sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at Brandon, Manitoba. This sitting of the Commission contains presentations relating to women's and Métis issues, employment, friendship centres, Aboriginal policing and education. Each presentation can be viewed individually on this site.
This file contains the remainder (see RCAP-7 through RCAP10 for presentations) of a discussion with the four previous presenters from the Dakota Ojibway Tribal Council and the Commissioners. The discussion continues on issues such as child welfare, health care and the criminal justice system.
This file contains an individual presentation by Shirley Gamble focusing on her life as an Aboriginal woman in an urban society. She would like to see "positive changes to the status of Aboriginal women living off-reserve and to create a better living plan formulating around the financial benefit we are deprived of." A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a brief presentation by Alex Venne relating to the Rural Native Housing Program and its inability to provide adequate housing for Métis people in the southern part of Manitoba. He states that the construction of houses should not be done by outside contractors, but by trained Aboriginal and Métis persons in the community who will eventually occupy them. A lengthy question-and-answer sessions with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Beverly Bunn focusing on the problems created by her organization's limited government funding and shortage of sufficient staff. She expresses frustration with recent cutbanks and states that the "Aboriginal employment service groups are no less important than any other service offered in this community." She introduces colleague Lorraine McKay and they answer questions from the Commissioners after the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Bobby Pacco and Loreen Cote focusing on the New Careers program, an education training program that offers training "for Aboriginals and non-Aboriginal people who are structurally barriered into finding good career opportunities." Careers include human service and management administration training. Cote states that in her experience as an Aboriginal student, New Careers has been extremely beneficial in preparing her to enter the workforce. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Brenda Genaille outlining the projected negative effects of program funding cuts by the federal government for 1993-1994. Genaille details some of the programs offered by the Brandon Friendship Centre, including the Adult Basic Literacy Program, a pre-employment training program, drug and alcohol awareness programs, and a human justice court worker program. Genaille introduces Richard Chaske, President of Manitoba Association of Friendship Centres, who takes part in the question-and-answer session with the Commissioners after the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Don Robertson focusing on the negative effects of federal and provincial government funding cuts to the BUNTEP program. He offers four recommendations to the Commissioners, including that funding be made available to advanced training programs in areas that have been identified by northern communities, such as counselling, recreation, community development and adult education. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Linda Pinch focusing on the Westman WomenÂ’s Shelter in Brandon. The shelter provides safe and temporary accommodation to women and their children who have been physically, emotionally or sexually abused. Pinch also discusses the YWCA Residence Program, a halfway house facility serving people on federal and provincial people, and those needing post-mental health and post-addiction treatment.
This file contains a presentation by Lorraine McKay focusing on Aboriginals living off-reserve in Brandon. She states that large numbers of Aboriginals are moving to larger centres and are finding it difficult to find housing and gain employment. The speaker calls on the Commission to secure funding for more programs for Aboriginals living in Brandon. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Marty Snelling and Mary Kelleher focusing on the YMCA and the Pre-Employment Program, which "assists the severely employment disadvantaged to find success both in the workplace and in daily living." Kelleher hopes that this program will become a permanent employment training centre in Brandon. Snelling briefly mentions the Stay In School Program that serves students who are considered at risk of dropping out of school. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Merv Pedlow focusing on the Human Resources Opportunity Program, whose purpose is to attempt to respond to the high level of unemployment and high level of social assistance required in those communities. One service provided is procuring funding for students wanting a post-secondary education and Pedlow's organization helps students negotiate through federal, provincial and local government criteria and restrictions to receive funding. A question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.
This file contains a presentation by Walter Madonick touching on a number of problems he has encountered as a student at Brandon University, including difficulty obtaining student loans, limited funding to move from home reserves to Brandon, and limited support services such as child care and counsellling. A brief question-and-answer session with the Commissioners follows the presentation.