Cindy Blackstock - "Innovators in Action" Speaker Series
The SiG@Waterloo "Innovators in Action" Speaker Series, applied the ideas of social innovation to a number of specific sectors and issues - education, youth mentorship, inclusion, collaboration and cultural change. Each of the keynote speakers shared their experiences of operating at the national level to identify and address the root causes of intractable social challenges. Each keynote lecture was followed by a local panel discussion who shared their reflections on the presentation and offered insight into their own experiences.
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Cindy Blackstock's Main Presentation
The Panel
Biographies
Cindy Blackstock's Main Presentation
The Canadian Government is currently before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on charges that it is racially discriminating against First Nations children and their families by providing less child welfare funding, and thus benefits, than other children receive. This inequality contributes to there being three times more First Nations children in foster care today than there were in residential schools.
This case is one of the most formally watched legal actions in Canadian history with over 4000 people and organizations committed to watching the tribunal and has the potential to set a precedent of equity across all services on reserves.
Cindy Blackstock, M.M., PhD
Executive Director, First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada
A member of the Gitksan Nation, she has worked in the field of child and family services for over 20 years. Key interests include exploring the over representation of Aboriginal children in child welfare care, structural drivers of child maltreatment in First Nations communities, human rights and the role of the voluntary sector in expanding the range of culturally and community based responses to child maltreatment.
Current professional interests include serving as an Atkinson Economic Justice Fellow, J.W. McConnell Family Foundation Social Innovation Generation Fellow, co-director of the Centre of Excellence for Child Welfare and a board member of the National Aboriginal Youth Organization.
Kathy Absolon
In Anishinaabe, Kathy is also known as Minogiizhigokwe (Shining Day Woman). Kathy comes from a blending of an Ojibway mother and English father. She is mother of three amazing people. Kathy is from Flying Post First Nation in Ontario and is Marten Clan. Kathy is also First Degree Midewiwin of the Three Fires Society Midewiwin Lodge. Kathy received her PhD at the University of Toronto in Adult Education with an emphasis in Aboriginal Adult Education. Her doctoral work was on Indigenous worldviews and methodologies in search for knowledge (research) in the academy. Her research interests have been in the area of Indigenous research, Indigenous social work practice, community healing and wellness and Indigenous knowledge. Currently, Kathy teaches at Wilfrid Laurier University in a Graduate MSW Aboriginal program utilizing holistic approaches to teaching and learning. Her teaching, research and learning is guided by holistic worldviews and Anishinaabek teachings. Kathy loves learning Anishinaabe and continually is learning about the traditions and teachings of her ancestors. Kathy's research interests are in the many facets of Indigenous methodologies and worldview in Indigenous research. She is currently working on a three year community based evaluation of Walking the Prevention Circle with seventy three communities in Quebec and Atlantic provinces. Walking the Prevention Circle is a national abuse and violence prevention training project with the Aboriginal branch of the Canadian Red Cross.
Dan McCarthy
Dan McCarthy is a faculty member with SiG@Waterloo as well as an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo. He has strong research interests and partnerships that relate to fostering adaptive capacity for Community-based Natural Resource Management, working closely with Mushkegowuk Cree First Nations in James Bay. Other research that explores stewardship, livelihoods and learning is connected to the Long Point World Biosphere Reserve and the Oak Ridges Moraine. Dan is a current board member on Centre for Community Mapping (COMAP) at the University of Waterloo and the Save the Oak Ridges Moraine (STORM) Coalition.
Carrie Tabobodung
Carrie (Waub-gu-nii-kwe, amik dodem) is from Wasauksing – a member nation of the Anishinabek Nation. She has been working in First Nation communities for 22 years. She has successfully completed a certificate in Human Services and a Bachelor of Social Work and graduating this year with a Masters in Social Work. Carrie has worked for Native organizations and First Nation communities in the field of social work, mental health, community development and youth leadership. Her primary interest has been culturally based community development in the social and health service sectors of First Nation communities; in particular the rebuilding, revitalizing and preservation of strong Anishinabek families and Nations. She is currently the Executive Director of Mnaasged Child and Family Services at Oneida Nation. Mnaasged serves 7 First Nation communities with child welfare prevention based programming. It is the intent to be a mandated Children’s Aid Society as a stepping stone to the long term vision of the London District Chiefs: First Nation child welfare law. Her life experience, academic and personal development brings a unique perspective to culturally based development and training and cultural revitalization in First Nation communities. Carrie currently resides in her husband’s community of Oneida Nation in southwestern Ontario. She has two children, Myles (15) and Skye (5) years. Carrie has been living in southwestern Ontario for 8 years.
Darren Thomas
Darren Thomas is a Seneca Nation, Bear Clan from the Haudenosaunee. He resides at the Grand River Territory of the Six Nations. Darren currently works part-time for Wilfrid Laurier University as a Coordinator of Community Service-Learning. He also owns his own consulting firm, New Orators Motivational Consultants. He travels throughout North America delivering a motivational message to all people about trying to live up to their greatest expectations. Darren specializes in working with First Nations peoples, inspiring them to be proud of their heritage and take a rightful place in modern society. Darren utilizes humour in all his work as he feels we desperately need to lighten up and begin to enjoy life. Darren is an Orator, Mentor, Actor, as well as a Certified Hypnotherapist and Stage Hypnotist, and has twenty years of experience working in Education, Addiction and Community Development. Darren has presented at numerous conferences throughout North America, and has consulted and helped develop programs and initiatives throughout Canada. Darren holds a Bachelor of Science Degree Majoring in Psychology along with a minor in Sociology. And this fall he has also started working towards his MA in Community Psychology at Wilfrid Laurier University.