Programs

Employment & economic development

NSNWA has created partnerships with private and public sector employers who are committed to employing Indigenous women. These partnerships provide Indigenous women with the appropriate education, training and mentorships to secure meaningful employment in a demand driven skill sector.

INDIGENOUS SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT TRAINING PROGRAM (ISETS)

Through the Indigenous Skills and Employment Training Program (ISET) the Nova Scotia Native Women’s Association & Native Women’s Association of Canada provides employment and training support services to Indigenous Women and gender-diverse individuals across the province. Our employment and training services provide Indigenous women with the opportunity to gain meaningful and sustainable work by meeting current labour market demands.

ELIGIBLE CLIENTELE

Eligible clientele are Indigenous women, transgender, two-spirited and gender diverse (First Nation, Inuit and Metis) who are 15 years of age or older. Individuals seeking funding support must be unemployed, under-employed or able to demonstrate an immediate risk of being unemployed.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS

CLIENT

Individual Training Purchases (ITP)

The Individual Training Purchases assists clients in obtaining the skills they need for employment. The ITP provides clients with financial assistance to help pay for the cost of skills training courses, programs, living allowance, supplies, and childcare.

Self-Employment Benefits (SEB)

The Self-Employment Benefits (SEB) program provides financial support to clients pursing self- employment. Consideration is made for expenses related to start-up cost, including the development of business plans.

GROUP TRAINING / SPECIAL PROJECTS

The group training / special projects provide funding to support customized training opportunities for employment skills and work experience through community based projects, focused on community needs.

EMPLOYER

On the Job Training

Creating partnerships with employers to offer temporary funding as an incentive to off-set the cost of a client’s wages. This will allow employers to hire clients for a unique on the job work experience tailored to the individual client’s skill set, education and previous work experience. This offers clients a paid work experience to improve their long-term employment prospects.

Sexualized Violence Prevention Program

Program Mandate:

To mobilize and build stronger community responses to support victims/survivors of sexual violence and to encourage citizens of all ages to take a role in preventing and responding to sexual violence, in a trauma and culturally appropriate way.

The Sexualized Violence Prevention Coordinator works collaboratively with Nova Scotia Mi’kmaq communities, organizations, services and partners to create and implement a Nova Scotia L’nu Sexualized Violence Prevention Strategy, Nova Scotia Human Trafficking Prevention and Support Strategy. Create and conduct workshops and training sessions identified by the program steering committee. Assist NSNWA local chapter leaders in mobilizing their respective communities to be more effective in addressing sexualized violence and support victims/survivors. Work with vulnerable at-risk populations in NS to prevent sexualized violence.

Program Outcomes:

• Citizens are more knowledgeable, skilled, connected and engaged on the issue of sexual violence
• Communities have a better understanding of sexual-violence related trauma
• Increased public awareness of available services, supports, resources and tools for preventing and responding to sexual violence
• Increased public awareness of sexual violence and its impact, including dispelling myths and stereotypes
• Improved ability of community members and service providers to respond to disclosures in a trauma-informed and culturally appropriate way.

family Information Liaison Unit (filu)

The FILU Coordinator is Responsible for:
• Visiting family members of the MMIWG and make referrals to traditional healing if they need/want
• Attend meetings concerning MMIWG, federal reporting and stats
• Organize family gatherings for MMIWG family members
• Offer Grief/Trauma workshops and follow-up with families after events
• Distribute information packages to policing services in NS
• Introduce the FILU program to police and other agencies, make myself available for families when they receive information about a loved one’s case.

Program Outcomes:

• Family visits are well received
• Planning a yearly MMIWG family gathering with a trauma/grief workshop offered
• Support family members when information was updated
• Traditional healing services
• Meetings and training associated with MMIWG are attended by the coordinator.