Niagara Region
The Niagara Peninsula is a picturesque region nestled between the shores of Lakes Ontario and Erie that boasts hundreds of hectares of touring trails for hiking, biking and walking. Many trails have been made accessible for all to enjoy! Made up of 12 Municipalities its largely diverse population exceeds 427, 400 people, inclusive of multiple Aboriginal communities.
Niagara’s Aboriginal communities consist of First Nations, Métis and Inuit, comprised of many Nations including Haudenosaunee, Anishnabek and Cree, all residing across the span of the Niagara Peninsula. Historically, the population of Aboriginal peoples in the area has varied due in part to emigration, warfare and diplomacy. However, several of these Nations remain deeming Niagara to be part of their ancestral territory. Furthermore, the Métis population continues to grow.
With the Niagara Region lying on the border between the United States and Canada, many of the Aboriginal people in the area, particularly those from the Haudenosaunee communities, do not view the border as a constraint that affects where they may live, work or travel on a daily basis. This has influenced the migrational nature of the population, and has potentially affected the services offered by organizations working with the Aboriginal population.
The Niagara Regional Native Center (NRNC) provides human services, social, cultural, recreational and educational programs to all Native people in St. Catharines, Niagara Falls, Welland, Thorold, Beamsville and Grimsby. The staff provide a variety of services and referrals, in addition to diverse in-house programs which include: Healing and Wellness Program, Health Outreach Project, Youth Program, Community Action Program for Children, Prenatal Nutrition Program, O-GI Employment Counselling, Life Long Care Program, Three Fires Justice Program, Healthy Babies/ Healthy Children Program, Literacy and Basic Skills Program.
The objectives of the NRNC are:
To promote awareness of the culture of Aboriginal peoples within the community in an effort to establish a relationship of mutual understanding and respect between the Aboriginal peoples and the other members of the community.
To advance, foster, encourage and promote the cultural and social interests of Aboriginal peoples, both collectively and individually.
To organize projects and carry out programs to alleviate and minimize, wherever possible, adverse social and economic conditions encountered by Aboriginal people in order to effect a general improvement in their overall welfare and well-being.
To promote native leadership in the native community.
Good day! My name is Lenora Gilbert. I am a mom, a sister, and a friend but above all I am a strong, independent woman. I have enjoyed living in Niagara for over 20 years, although, the last few years of work experience has been in Hamilton. I have a Diploma in Community and Justice Services, Counselling and General Arts with focus on Psychology and Sociology as well as a multitude of community Certificates acquired both through work and independently including Fitness Training. I clearly love to learn and love being able to empower those around me!
During the past 5 years in the Social Service sector I have come to appreciate how overall health of the individual, family and community is impacted by various aspects of the physical, emotional, spiritual and mental being. I have also come to understand and experience duplication, loss of and gaps in fundamental services that lead to decline in physical and mental health further marginalizing already struggling populations. For this reason I am excited for the opportunity to network and collaborate within the Niagara Region to support the improvement of the health of our youth.
Phone 519-661-2111 ext. 80433
Email [email protected]
