5 th annual community futures treaty seven disability employment symposium “keeping the momentum,...

5th Annual Community Futures Treaty Seven Disability

Employment Symposium

“Keeping the Momentum, Moving Forward.”

May 16, 2012

Keynote Address - Ryan RobbTreaty 7 Management Corporation

T7MC MISSION STATEMENTT7MC MISSION STATEMENT

To provide effective advisory services in order to continue to build capacity for all Treaty 7 First Nations in a fair and consistent manner.

T7MC VISIONT7MC VISION

To be self-sufficient, accountable, and unified as we continue to renew,protect, and affirm our TreatyRights.

Corporate Structure

TREATY 7 MANAGEMENT CORPORATIONTREATY 7 MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

Treaty 7 Management Corporation provides “advisory” and “advocacy” services to all seven (7) Nations that compose Treaty 7

Standard “Tribal Council” responsibilities include:1) Governance2) Financial Management3) Technical Services4) Community Development5) Economic Development

Treaty 7 Management Corporation completes thismandate through several different departments (see Org Chart)

ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTORGANIZATIONAL CHART

• in Canada, as elsewhere, povertyand disability are largely synonymous

• no coordinated policy response in place to address the poverty of people with disabilities

• constitutional responsibility for disability supports and servicesare shared by different levelsof government

• a call for action has gone as high asthe UN Human Rights Council

1. Implement a National Action Plan (developed in part by the Council of Canadians with Disabilities), and

2. To address barriers impeding access to justice for disadvantaged Canadians (including First Nations), and including persons withdisabilities.

• the Government of Canada is well aware of the inadequacies

• 12% of Canadians have disabilities

• 33% of Aboriginal/First Nations Canadians have disabilities

• unemployment is a longstanding concern for thedisabled

• "Over 55% of working-age adultswith disabilities are currently unemployed or out of the labourmarket. For women withdisabilities the rate is almost 75%.”

• I see four key areas where we must work together to advance the agendaof sustainability and inclusion of First Nations people with disabilities, and indeed, the same might be said for all of Treaty 7

• First: we need to alleviate thepoverty of persons with disabilitiesand their families. (Adequate support and access to meaningful employment)

• Second: we need to enhance or expand the support for independent living, supporting active citizenship and participation (such as safe, accessible and affordablehousing)

• Third: we need strong labor force inclusion measures (hiring policies, legislation, training and education)

• Fourth: and finally, we need social change or development that promotes accessibility and community, on all levels

• revisiting my previous quote from“End Exclusion 2007”:

• "Solutions are complex and multi-jurisdictional, however, this CANNOT be an excuse for inaction.”

R eturn

O n

I nclusion