October 19, 2021
Manitoba Government Announces Funding for Manitoba Inuit Association
– – –Connecting Inuit to Services That Meet Their Evolving Needs: Premier and Lagimodiere
To assist in building capacity of the representative organization for Inuit living in Manitoba, the Manitoba government is providing $30,000 toward the Manitoba Inuit Association (MIA) to continue its work of enhancing the lives of Inuit in Manitoba and connecting Inuit to services that meet their evolving needs, Premier Kelvin Goertzen and Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere announced today.
“Our government recognizes the important work the Manitoba Inuit Association does to ensure Inuit have access to culturally specific supports, particularly in health care, social services and education,” said Goertzen. “Throughout the pandemic, the MIA has played an integral role in protecting and informing its community from the impacts of COVID-19, and we look forward to building on this important partnership to help improve the lives of all Manitobans.”
“More than 1,000 Inuit call Manitoba home and more than 15,000 visits are made by Inuit travelling to Winnipeg hospitals every year from the Kivalliq region of Nunavut for health care and to pursue skills-training or post-secondary education opportunities,” said Lagimodiere. “Supporting the Manitoba Inuit Association provides an opportunity for ongoing activities and initiatives that will help sustain and build Inuit culture, values and language here in Manitoba.”
The funding will support core operations that, in turn, work to build capacity toward increased high school/post-secondary graduation rates for Inuit, increased employment opportunities and training for Inuit living in Manitoba.
“The Manitoba Inuit Association is pleased with the financial commitment of the provincial government and its steadfastness in shaping the first provincial-Inuit relationship that was invigorated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. The province continues to build and strengthen the relationship through Inuit engagement and applied understanding of Inuit history of colonization, Inuit geo-politics and current challenges of the community,” says Rachel Dutton, executive director, MIA. “To be officially recognized as an Inuit organization representing over 1,000 Inuit beneficiaries living in Manitoba – it is a good day. We are thankful for the province’s commitment of $30,000 of core funding and we feel this is a good start to demonstrating their responsibilities to Inuit living and working in Manitoba. We look forward to building on this success with the province in the spirit of reconciliation.”
The MIA opened its doors in 2012 and works to strengthen Inuit language and culture in Manitoba. The organization has assisted in Manitoba’s COVID-19 response by planning and implementing three Inuit pop-up vaccine clinics throughout the spring as part of the province’s support of Manitoba’s Urban Indigenous Vaccine Clinics.
Additionally, MIA has played a role in working to address the tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls and continues to participate in several working groups that align with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s Calls to Action.
To learn more about the Manitoba Inuit Association, visit www.manitobainuit.ca/.
- 30 -