The rural and northern First Nations communities are the recipients of implementation suggestions from the third area of research findings. The participants who work in First Nation communities will need to help NILA voice these suggestions to the appropriate Leadership when opportunities present themselves. The First Nation community Leaders have a difficult time given the structures of their political process. The Canadian Human Rights Commission (2005) and INAC (2007) presented ample evidence of the erosion of First Nations communities, the Indian Act, the impact of residential schools, and the quality of life on today’s reserves. How can it be easy for any Chief and Council who inherit these difficult tasks and have inadequate time to respond to long term needs? The need is great and this led to many implementation ideas and suggestions that cannot all be captured in this report. It is currently apparent that far more emphasis and funding are required for Aboriginal job seekers at the pre-employability stage. Each individual community needs to begin activities and planning, as the time is right for their voice to be heard. Recommendations for rural and northern First Nations communities in Manitoba are illustrated below in the same integral levels as the other stakeholders.
Many First Nations communities in Manitoba and Saskatchewan have some of the lowest indicators of quality of life. Reports have indicated growing needs for health care, education, housing, clean water, and employment (Manitoba Aboriginal and Northern Affairs (2006). It is imperative to focus attention on the basic needs of community members first. ECs will have much more effectiveness when working with clients who are fed, sheltered, and cared for. Job seekers cannot focus on employment with other basic issues threatening their life conditions. Literacy should be considered a basic need and begin to take its place on the list of important projects in all First Nations communities.
First Nations communities have a history of creating communities that encourage belonging. In the research comments, there were many good examples, of the loyalty and love for one’s community in these rural and northern locations. The group belonging for the EC is not working very well. They are sometimes working alone and not with other programs.
Communities need to maximize the opportunities for training and employment on major provincial initiatives. That is going to mean working with all the related agencies that support the job seeker. Real belonging will happen when community planning is fully representative of the community diversity and not just in the chambers of Chief and Council.