Poverty Reduction

Our goals are to:

• Food security and sustainability must be prioritized in Indigenous communities to end poverty, including traditional food gathering and gardening support.
• We must empower Indigenous women and gender-diverse people to pursue their passions and business endeavors, especially in northern and remote communities.
• Policies must be proactive in providing culturally appropriate violence prevention services to end violence against Indigenous women, girls, and their families.

Summary:

Adverse conditions of colonization and current paternalistic government approaches have created an environment where Indigenous women and gender-diverse people are politically disenfranchised and economically marginalized. This leads to exclusion from decision-making positions and financial vulnerability.

Decades of worldwide research proves that important connections in access to culture directly affects poverty reduction. Poverty, especially for Indigenous women, increases vulnerability to violence, lack of autonomy, and reduced access to services. Poverty leads to social disconnection, which is why cultural identity and social inclusion are necessary for poverty reduction.

In 2017, NWAC conducted research on poverty reduction. A lack of access to land, water, cultural supports, and social services—such as mental health and housing—were identified as main concerns. A need for prioritizing Indigenous-centred services and holistic approaches for services were also identified. These are all necessary to build resiliency and reduce poverty for Indigenous women.

These findings drive the direction for NWAC’s new Social and Cultural Innovation Centre, which includes Indigenous specific supports and services. The centre will include a boutique for Indigenous women entrepreneurs to sell their products, with the goal of fostering economic resiliency among Indigenous women and gender-diverse people.