THUNDER BAY — A showcase and workshop event aims to remove barriers for Indigenous communities, service providers, organizations and leaders.
That was just one of the goals of Tuesday’s Indigenous Showcase and Leadership Session at the Victoria Inn Hotel and Convention Centre, which was put on by the Noojmawing Sookatagaing (Healing Working Together) Ontario Health Team.
Natalie Paavola, the health team's Indigenous co-chair, said that the day was also about raising awareness about the service providers and develop relationships and partnerships among the Indigenous community.
“[I] hope to see people walk away with connections [and plans] for further collaboration,” Paavola said. “Within the City and District of Thunder Bay, [there are] a lot of services provided by Indigenous people for Indigenous people [however] we're not fully aware of what those services are. So today was about bringing us together and creating that awareness.”
Paavola stated that 50 registrants were confirmed for the leadership council.
The showcase featured booths from a diverse array of Indigenous organizations and service providers across the City and District of Thunder Bay.
She would love to see this become an annual event in Thunder Bay.
“We’ll see what comes from today and what comes from this leadership group. [I believe it is] ultimately up to them as a community to decide how we're going to work together moving forward.”
Paavola mentioned that planning for this event began in the spring, and was thrilled to see the event come to fruition.
