Wings of Change Finishes Second Stage
Funding for Third Stage of Aboriginal health and safety program approved.
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The wrap up session of Wings of Change, the MFL's Occupational Health Center project that involves an education and outreach initiative to Aboriginal workers, was held in early December. Club 1919 in the Union Center was packed with fully trained Sharing Circle Guides and graduates of the sessions.
When the Wings of Change project began three years ago, the plan was to ensure that health and safety educational material would meet the needs of Aboriginal workers in the workplace. Phase one was led by Elaine Whitford who spent a great deal of time talking to members of the Aboriginal community about their needs. It quickly became apparent that the project needed to be refocused to answer the question - 'Why is there no participation in health and safety in the workplace by Aboriginal workers?'
The main funder of the project, the Manitoba Workers Compensation Board, quickly approved the change of direction. Many of the members of the Aboriginal advisory group spent untold hours finding a way for workers to begin participation. The answer was found in equating the Seven Sacred Traditional Aboriginal teachings with the three workers' rights as a way of understanding and dealing with workplace health and safety issues.
Those Seven Sacred teachings - Love; Respect; Humility; Bravery; Honesty; Truth; Wisdom - then had to be combined with the three worker rights and shared with Aboriginal workers in a safe environment. For stage two of the project, Val Vint became the coordinator and used the Sharing Circle to promote health and safety, three workers rights and issues in Winnipeg. She also trained many Sharing Circle Guides to go out to the workplaces and communities to offer this approach to many other workers.
Throughout the project, they developed many resources including a video, Spirit Tool Kit, fact sheet and resource guide for the use of Sharing Circle Guides. Phase two was finished by Janice Green who stepped in the final months when a new opportunity for Val Vint took her to other horizons.
The wind up evening was very festive with those in attendance enjoying celebrating and listening to Anthony Niiganii (left), a concert trained flautist who entertained on four different instruments. Speeches were kept to a minimum and a series of photographs from the first two stages provided a trip down memory lane.
One of the highlights of the evening came when Janice Mezaros of the Workers Compensation Board announced that the funding for Stage three had been approved. Stage Three plans are to take the lessons learned and Sharing Circle training to Aboriginal communities and workplaces throughout all of Manitoba. Everyone present was thrilled with the news and looks forward to an exciting year ahead.
Anyone wishing more information on the Wings of Change program can email Diana Ludwick at mflohc@mflohc.mb.ca, phone her at the Occupational Health Centre at 949-0811, or download a PDF format document that provides additional information on the program.