Bimaadzwin News

By Bimaadzwin 16 Feb, 2024
Empowering Futures: Celebrating International Women's Day with the Wisdom of the Seven Sacred Grandfather Teachings
By C Tousignant 13 Dec, 2023
Christmas Greeting Card From Bimaadzwin 
By Bimaadzwin 20 Jun, 2023
Honouring Our Heritage, Our Future
By Bimaadzwin 07 Mar, 2023
From the entire Bimaadzwin team we wish everyone an amazing International Women's Day 2023! We look forward to continue celebrating the tremendous benefits of equity and diversity of the women on our team and we thank them for inspiring future generations to promote these values for the long term.
By Niijaansinaanik 13 Sep, 2022
NIIJAANSINAANIK OFFICES – SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 – Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services begin the journey of establishing a new standardized approach to providing Indigenous Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being services through the development of the Orange Standard Service Delivery Model. The Niijaansinaanik Orange Standard approach aims to cultivate a shared understanding of what it means to provide culturally safe prevention and protection services to children, youth, and families. The Orange Standard lays the foundation to promote leading and innovative practices in Child Well-Being, guided by the four pillars: The Rights of the Child, First Nation Child and Family Funding Equity, Niijaansinaanik History, Heritage and Culture, and an “Every Child Matters” Framework of Operational Excellence. “Our children and families deserve more than the gold standard when it comes to services. We have far too many issues that have plagued us under a provincial child welfare regime that must be redesigned,” said Niijaansinaanik Board of Directors President Marnie Anderson, “The Niijaansinaanik Board of Directors have decided that our standards will be unique and founded upon our worldview and standards that are rooted in Indigenous ways of knowing. This is the beginning of our work to develop the Orange Standard and will be the foundation for redesigning Child, Youth, and Family Well-Being in our communities.” The Orange Standard Model started by Niijaansinaanik will include a community and culturally defined set of principles that redefine how Indigenous child prevention and protection will be implemented in the communities served. The Orange Standard will enhance and prioritize prevention, family support, and cultural healing over any protection intervention when possible; meaning that the focus will always be on what is best for the child/youth and what supports will contribute to well-being. “We seek to establish a set of principles that demonstrate Indigenous values including the Grandfather Teachings to continue building strong families, communities, and nationhood,” said Executive Director Joanne Koehler. “The Orange Standard honours children, youth and families, and communities affected by historical trauma.” Niijaansinaanik has set a 1, 2, and 3-year critical path for this work, and the project has been recognized by Indigenous Services Canada (ISC). The agency will begin outreach to include government partners, child well-being experts, and other collaborators that bring structure and semblance of new standards that break the current colonial mold. “The Orange Standard will bring back our traditional ways and teachings of our people that were lost upon contact,” said Niijaansinaanik Head Elder Joyce Tabobondung. Contact: Shayla Brunet, Communications Coordinator Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services 1-855-223-5558 ext. 4001 Shayla.Brunet@niijcfs.com Our organization: In March 2016, jurisdictional Chiefs mandated Waabnoong Bemjiwang Association of First Nations (WBAFN) to pursue the development of a First Nations Children Services Agency for the member First Nations including Wasauksing, Wahnapitae, Magnetawan, Dokis, Henvey Inlet, and Shawanaga First Nation (independent). By September 2016, operations began, for what would be known as Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services to begin activities as a pre-designated agency. Since beginning, Niijaansinaanik has worked to reclaim and restore jurisdiction for the safety, protection, and well-being of Indigenous children, youth, and families. Niijaansinaanik Child and Family Services received provincial designation on April 1st, 2021.
By Simona Rosenfield – The Eastern Door 05 Aug, 2022
When Alison Deer learned she had been unanimously accepted for the alumni board poition she had applied to just a few weeks before, she felt honoured to join the team at Cape Breton University (CBU). Her acceptance to this role is no surprise to those who know her. “Allison has always been a leader,” said Isadore Dar, CEO at Bimaadzwin, where Deer works as a senior project advisor. “She’s somebody who gets things done one step at a time. And sometimes those (people) aren’t very loud or visible. She is so humble.” Her passion, talent, and commitment made her the ideal candidate to join, as she has spent 40 years developing innovative solutions to issues faced by Indigenous communities across the territory. “We had an extremely high number of applicants to our board of directors this year,” said Brandon Ellis, president of the board. “Allison was a standout just because of the skills she brought. Just in terms of her leadership and cooperation and relationship building. I found she was very strong.” Having studied a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) at CBU, Deer works to see problems through various lenses, which has allowed her to develop sustainable strategies for issues in sectors like Indigenous healthcare. “Our consulting firm (Bimaadzwin) is focused on health, governance and economic development,” she explained. “We believe that these are the key to reconsistuting Indigenous nationhood.” Through her role as project manager of Bimaadzwin’s partnership with with the international pharmaceutical company, Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, Deer has developed a business attitude that centres cultural safety. “It’s Indigenous people helping Indigenous patients, with this model of care,” Deer explained.
By Isadore Day 03 Jun, 2022
As the CEO of Bimaadzwin, I am pleased to announce and congratulate our co-worker Allison Deer, MBA, Senior Project Advisor, on becoming the newest alumni member to serve as a Board Director for Cape Breton University Alumni Board. Now you join a group that recognizes your hard work, and I know you will bring innovative ideas to support the various activities and services for the alumni. Allison is a Mohawk from Kahnawake, Quebec, and she has over 40 years of helping build stronger Indigenous communities across Canada. Allison is a graduate of CBU and has a Master of Business Administration in Community Economic Development. Allison is a committed advocate for Indigenous Health and a collaborative change maker. Allison currently oversees a Bimaadzwin's Partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim Canada, an International Pharmaceutical company, and developed an Indigenous Health Policy Framework to uphold the Human Right to Health. Allison's work experience ranges from working with an NGO-Canadian Executive Services Organization (CESO), policy work on Social Environmental Governance (ESG), and sitting on boards at local, regional, and national levels. Allison brings a vast knowledge of experience in 3P collaboration, stewardship and how to foster nationhood. CBU is very fortunate to have you sit on their Board of Directors. I congratulate you on your accomplishments for this very prestigious honour. Isadore Day, Bimaadzwin CEO
By Bimaadzwin 16 May, 2022
Bimaadzwin & Boehringer Ingelheim We're looking for motivated partners interested in pursuing Indigenous focused health projects in Diabetes, Interstitial Lung Disease, and COPD.
Show More
Share by: