The Blog

Follow along as we work towards systems change and help create better outcomes for kids in our community.

Tamarack Institute Webinar and Workshop

October 18, 2018

prototyping event imageAs a project we have always talked about the importance of forming strong partnerships with other organizations. We believe that complex challenges, such as early childhood development outcomes, are not solvable without a diverse group of stakeholders around the table.

With strong partnerships comes the ability to learn from others and grow through shared knowledge, which we often do with groups such as Shift Lab in Edmonton and MaRS Solutions Lab in Toronto.

One of our partnerships is with the Tamarack Institute, with whom we have been working on a number of important projects such as development evaluation, some strategic planning for the future, and the documentation of of our prototypes in a visual and user-friendly way.

In addition to this, we have recently partnered on a few opportunities for collaborative sharing of knowledge through a workshop and a webinar hosted by Tamarack and supported by #wpgboldness.

The webinar was held on October 9th on the topic of community wisdom and systems change, in the context of Winnipeg Boldness’ work. Our project director, Diane Roussin, spoke about our experience working alongside the community to promote large scale change in systems, and the values and methods we used to make sure our relationships were effective and reciprocal.

We spoke a bit about reconciliation as well, which again plays into our belief that both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples must be a part of systems change because issues like poverty and early childhood outcomes affect everyone equally, as we all share the same ecosystem.

If you weren’t able to join us for the webinar, you can watch the full recording here.

We will also be joining the Tamarack Institute in hosting a workshop on November 20 on the topic of prototyping for community change. We’ll be using Winnipeg Boldness as a real-life example of how prototyping can be used in community work to test ideas for proven impact before making a big investment in new programs and interventions.

If you’re in Winnipeg, make sure to register for the workshop! Here are the details:

What: Prototyping for Community Change Workshop hosted by the Tamarack Institute
When: Tuesday, November 20, 2018
Where: Robert A. Steen Community Club (980 Palmerston Ave)

Click here to register! If the cost for registration is a barrier to participation, then you can apply for a reduced registration fee here.

Hope to see you there!

Land Acknowledgement

The Winnipeg Boldness Project resides in and works on the ancestral, traditional, and contemporary lands of the Anishinaabeg (Ojibwe), Anishinabewaki (Oji-Cree), Dené, Michif Piyii (Métis), Nêhiyawak (Cree), and Očhéthi Sakowin (Dakota). We recognize that we have benefited from and continue to benefit from colonization on the Treaty 1, Treaty 3, and Treaty 5 Territories.

It is important to also acknowledge how we benefit in this territory at the cost to Indigenous Peoples. Winnipeg has been drinking clean water for over a century via an aqueduct from Shoal Lake. In 1917, 3000 acres of Treaty 3 was declared property of the city of Winnipeg to build the aqueduct. This aqueduct was built over ancestral burial ground, to build these structures, the ancestors were disinterred and reburied. Construction of the aqueduct changed the waters significantly, causing the peninsula to become a man-made island. This now isolated Nation faced many challenges as a direct result from this aqueduct; Necessities like water, groceries, schools, and mail were only accessible via the dangerous trek to the mainland. Lives of adults and children were lost crossing to and from the mainland. Freedom Road, an all-weather road access finally opened summer 2019, over a century after displacement. This road, a testament to the success of Indigenous-led solutions, helps bring materials to build schools and a water treatment plant.

“I always think of it, even when I turn on the tap I’m like this comes from our community and this water probably contains our ancestors and the spirits of our ancestor. I think about the hardships of the people from Shoal Lake 40 who have gone through so many things for the benefit of Winnipeg’s drinking water,” says Angelina McLeod.1

Another benefit we reap in Winnipeg at a cost to Indigenous Peoples and land is the Hydro Electricity Development in Treaty 5. To optimize water movement for greatest power production the Province of Manitoba increased waterflow by creating the Churchill River Diversion in 1976. The modification of the waterflow caused flooding, shoreline erosion, and changes to water quality. This destruction of habitat has caused disruption to waterway travel, fishing, and hunting.

  1. https://www.aptnnews.ca/facetoface/spirits-of-our-ancestor-shoal-lake-40-is-rectifying-a-century-of-hardships/