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Advocacy

EAGLE Urban Transition Centre

About EUTC

The Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs created the EAGLE Urban Transition Centre (EUTC) in 2005. The primary goal of the EUTC is to act as a culturally relevant and non-discriminatory gateway for Indigenous people transitioning into an urban centre. The EUTC office is focused on providing a single window from which clients receive support, advocacy and access to needed programs to achieve independent living.

The EUTC is a hub of information and a central location for clients seeking transitional support while living in and/or relocating to Winnipeg. Currently, EUTC operates in downtown Winnipeg at 275 Portage Avenue, 2nd Floor. This location provides more than 4,000 sq. ft. of office space, is both central and convenient, and is wheelchair accessible.

The best way to describe the EUTC is that it acts as a compass to find the most appropriate urban supports available to address single or multiple transitional issues. Our First Nation staff work with clients to help identify their needs and help them navigate existing resources that will respond to their situations.

Building trust is a critical first step with our clients; our organization, and our staff are non-judgmental, and we emphasize that we are here to help and provide support.

Chris Prince, EUTC Program Manager

Over time, the EUTC has built and maintained an up-to-date inventory of resources, programs and services available to assist First Nation (First Nation) clients with day-to-day issues, including housing, social assistance, addictions, resources for youth and services/programs in the areas of training/employment and education. Resources may be used with counsellors’ assistance, support and advocacy, or clients may exercise their self-help option.

A critical element of the EUTC is our close connection to First Nations in Manitoba and the ability of our staff to assist clients with communicating with their respective First Nations. While First Nation citizens may reside in Winnipeg, they still have the right and option to access their First Nation’s resources, exercise their Treaty rights, speak their language and engage in traditional practices.

EUTC believes that Indigenous people experiencing transitional issues should have access to resources that support a healthy balanced life and wellness in physical, mental, spiritual and emotional areas.

Mandate: 

  • To improve the quality of life for Indigenous people and their families in an urban environment.
  • To provide holistic support, which covers the four aspects of the individual: physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
  • To provide support which incorporates both traditional and contemporary methods to meet the needs of all clients.
  • To work as a team internally and with the community at large for society to better respond to the needs of Indigenous people.
  • To provide advocacy and access to opportunities leading to economic independence.
  • To create a supportive, welcoming and trusting environment for clients, staff and partner organizations.
  • To recognize and promote pride in the Indigenous identity of First Nations.

Resources: 

  • Access to computers with internet
  • Free Connect 2 Voicemail Services
  • Access to up-to-date listings of employment opportunities, rental listings and applications, education and training opportunities, a listing of events and gatherings, email networking
  • Assistance with printing, faxing and mailing
  • Call to book an appointment with our Elder
  • Advocacy and referrals to other services
  • Disability resources
  • A Healing Room: provides a private and comfortable area to practice traditional and contemporary spirituality

EUTC Contact:

200-275 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B2B3
Phone: 204-954-3050
Toll Free: 1-866-345-1883
http://eagleutc.com

Eagle’s Nest Program

The Eagle Urban Transition Centre (EUTC) continues to operate the Eagle’s Nest Project as a resource for Indigenous youth who are out of school and unemployed.

The Eagle’s Nest project activities are delivered at St. John’s Leisure Centre at 601 Aikins Avenue in Winnipeg’s North End. The City of Winnipeg has been a tremendous supporter contributing to the success of the Eagle’s Nest.

The Eagle’s Nest aims to assist 60 Indigenous youth annually toward personal and professional goals that will ultimately see them gain the confidence to return to school or obtain employment.

The Eagle’s Nest Program provides professional and personal skill development opportunities for Indigenous youth aged 15-30 who are not enrolled in school or are currently unemployed.

Program delivery is guided by the four quadrants of the medicine wheel (Spiritual, Emotional, Physical, & Mental) and is delivered holistically to empower Indigenous youth.

The program is Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 3:30 p.m., over a 12-week period. The program has three annual intakes: Sept to Dec, Jan to April, and May to August.

What we offer:

  • First Aid CPR Level C Certificate
  • Level 1 Food Handlers Certificate
  • Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training(ASIST)
  • Non-Violence Crisis Intervention Skills Training (NVCI)
  • Mental Health First Aid Certificate
  • Housing Certificate
  • Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS)
  • Daily skill development activities
  • Training and Employment Counseling
  • Volunteer Opportunities
  • Recreation Activities
  • Nutrition Program
  • Workshops/Presentations by Urban Service Providers
  • Aboriginal Culture, language and traditional skill building
  • Social skill and strategies development
  • Tours at Post Secondary Institutions

Please call for the next start date; applications are accepted throughout the year. 

You can also reach out to :

Shannon Shaw
Program Coordinator
sshaw@manitobachiefs.com

For more information, please call 204-954-3075.

Download Eagle’s Nest application form here

New Beginnings Program

The New Beginnings Program helps First Nations and their families facing homelessness and need support in maintaining housing in an urban environment. Staff are friendly, approachable, and welcoming to urban-residing First Nation citizens, making them feel welcome and encouraging them to use our services repeatedly.

Through a collaborative approach, the EUTC prioritizes meeting the housing, employment, mental health and addictions needs of urban First Nation residents. Community resources are provided to individuals and families based on their needs, including furniture, medical services, and free resources. Our team provides one-on-one support and advocacy during employment income assistance and medical appointments until other community resources can take over. The program provides damage deposit assistance to homeless participants or participants at risk of homelessness. The damage deposits provided the necessary assistance in securing housing. EUTC covers the costs of birth certificate identification and referrals to the Assiniboine credit union for a bank account. We advocate for the waiver of fees for MPI photo identification cards.

Fresh Start Program

The EUTC’s Fresh Start Program is a First Nation housing project in partnership with End Homelessness – Reaching Home, and Doorways Winnipeg, both built on the principles of the Housing First Program. Doorways Winnipeg is an innovative initiative that will help end homelessness for the most vulnerable individuals in Winnipeg.

Designed under the Housing First philosophy, the Fresh Start Program does not require individuals to demonstrate that they are ‘ready’ for housing. No resident is required to be sober or abstinent to qualify for housing. Participation in the program is also voluntary. In contrast to what has been traditionally believed, this approach differs from the orthodoxy of ‘treatment first’ approaches that place homeless people in emergency services and require them to address specific issues (addictions, mental health) before they are deemed ‘ready’ for housing (having received medical care or treatment).

Program Objective

Fresh Start works with 40 Indigenous (Ages 18-65) community members looking to leave chronic or episodic homelessness: The program offers a safe environment, Monday to Friday, programming, supportive staff, cultural education and an abundance of developmental opportunities. 

Fresh Start aims to provide monthly sweats, medicine picking, naming ceremonies, and one-on-one support with an Elder or Knowledge Keeper as a part of the community member’s healing process.

For more information, visit https://eagleutc.com/services/fresh-start-program/

Patient Advocate Unit

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Indigenous Health (WRHA-IH) and AMC Patient Advocate Unit (PAU) have entered into a collaboration since 2009, whereby the WRHA-IH supports the creation of the AMC-PAU and the work of that team of Navigators and Program Assistants. Their primary purpose is to provide outreach services to connect First Nations individuals to health, housing and social service support needed to live safely in the community, whether in Winnipeg or outside of Winnipeg.

The main focus of the PAU is to assist and support First Nation individuals with their concerns and issues that they have encountered within the healthcare system in the areas of advocacy and navigation services. The PAU receives referrals from WRHA-IH Central Intake, walk-ins, and call-ins, as well as direct referrals from the Grand Chief’s Office (GCO), Chief & Councils, Health Directors and outside agencies. The prevalent client issues include:

  • Medical relocations,
  • Housing issues,
  • Non-Insured Health Benefits (NIHB),
  • Consultation (family, medical, and legal),
  • Transportation resources
  • Medical matters for individuals receiving or who recently received care from WRHA facilities/programs and who require advocacy.

Each year the number of clients continues to grow. There is a need for advocacy services for First Nations people to ensure their medical needs are met, and their issues are addressed equitably and timely.

Direct Referrals: 

200-275 Portage Avenue
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B2B3
Phone: 204-987-4120
Toll-Free: 1-888-324-5483
Fax: 204-944-0582

In-Hospital Referrals: 

Indigenous Health Programs – Central Intake
Phone: 204-940-8880
Toll-Free: 1-877-940-8880
Fax: 204-943-1728

To learn more, visit https://eagleutc.com/services/patient-advocate-unit/

Special Needs Advocate Unit

What is Advocacy?

Advocacy is our job to help clients change their situation by best supporting you in working together to find solutions (answers) to accessing services, finding resources and ensuring your needs are being met and protecting your rights.

Services we provide:

Intake Assessment to determine what is needed for you, your child(ren) and/or an adult with special needs, disabilities or mental health issues so we can determine what services are required. On-Reserve see your Jordan’s Principle Coordinator and/or Jordan’s Principle Case Manager, Nurse, CFS, Home and Community Care, Education or Health Director, Social Services worker (EIA), Justice, Daycare and Chief and Off-Reserve referrals can be made by self, family member in-person or referred to us by any professional service provider in Health, Education, Justice, Housing and Social Services.

  • Assist in the complaint process, hearing concerns, and filing grievances to resolve complaints or services.
  • Enhance Coordination of services, ensuring that services are maintained and followed on-reserve and off-reserve.
  • Education & Awareness on a variety of treatments for your situation Nutrition, Financial, and Social issues.
  • Link clients and families to community resources such as transportation, housing assistance, financial assistance and/or support
  • Offer emotional support to clients and families during difficult and stressful times.
  • Develop a Care and Support Plan with the family and service providers for follow-up, responsibility and time frame to ensure the needs are being met by all involved in the child or adult’s life.
Short-Term Respite Services

The goals of the Off-Reserve Respite Program are to:

  • Provide services so that families with special needs children have time to do chores, pay bills, etc.
  • Provide individualized Respite Support Services.
  • Improve the quality of life for all children with special needs by providing services to help them with the activities of daily living.
  • Work with the whole family to ensure everyone is involved in the decision making process, thus empowering the family unity.
  • Network with other resources (schools, hospitals, etc) in urban centres.
Moving Forward

The Special Needs Advocates work in conjunction with the Jordan’s Principle-Child First Initiative Coordinators and Case Managers to address the health and social needs of community members that is culturally based on-reserve and off-reserve. This is to ensure there is a continuum of care.

Special Needs Advocate Unit

Advocate for children and adults with special needs, disabilities and/or mental health issues both on-reserve and off-reserve. We will support First Nation’s people by finding solutions(answers) to accessing services, make referrals, finding resources to ensure your needs are being met and protecting your rights. We will assist in obtaining Long Term Respite and in the interim we provide Short Term – Off-Reserve Respite.

For further information and intake, contact the Administrative Assistant at  specialneedsadvocate@manitobachiefs.com or visit https://eagleutc.com/services/special-needs-advocate-unit/