CAB Barrier Breakers
Kahnawake Caring Across the Boundaries Session
February 23-24, 2005
Commonly cited barriers to collaboration are:
- * Lack of time to form relationships
- * Distance between voluntary sector and reserve communities
- * Lack of knowledge about each other's needs and services
- * Lack of cultural knowledge
- * Misperception that First Nations communities have all the resources they need
Drawing on their experience and knowledge, CAB participants demonstrated that with a bit of effort and intention, these barriers can be readily overcome. Below are the strategies generated by the participants of the Kahnawake CAB sessions.
Take advantage of opportunities for cultural education and awareness...
- * Help plan/attend educational workshops
- * Help plan/attend conferences
- * Give/attend presentations
- * Do independent learning: use books, magazines, newspapers, radio, film, the Internet, discussion
- * Celebrate National Aboriginal Day
Take advantage of opportunities for voluntary sector education and awareness...
- * Make promotion/outreach part of VSO mandate
- * Help plan/attend VSO community "fair" (e.g. tables with information and promotional materials)
- * Give/attend presentations
Take advantage of opportunities for reciprocal outreach...
- * FN agencies invite VSO to relevant gatherings, VSO invites FN agencies to relevant gatherings
- * Cultural Exchange/Job Shadowing
Make the Most out of Networking Time
- * FN agencies take initiative to identify community needs to VSO
- * FN agencies and VSO work together to tailor VSO services to community needs
- * Establish "satellite" offices for FN community
- * Establish protocol
- * Initiate regular forums and exchange information (news, contact numbers) regularly
- * Ensure you use the same language/understand each other's language
- * Understand the progression of services
- * Use FNCFCS Website
Be willing to...
- * Understand the causes of fear/distrust and work to reduce it
- * Understand what "sovereignty" means and how it applies
- * Use a respectful and open mind in all interactions
- * Learn
- * Stand up for collective/individual rights when violation occurs
