About MWSD Support Lodge
Though legally created in December, 2023, the story of the Mi’gmaq/Wolastoqiyik Social Development Support Lodge began in 2011. It was then that the Government of Canada announced that social assistance rates and standards on-reserve in must strictly mirror provincial rules and standards. Concerned that the change would be detrimental to recipients and band finances, First Nations in New Brunswick challenged the decision in Court. The 2011 court decision ruled in favour of New Brunswick First Nations, then was overturned on appeal.
Instead of taking the government back to court, Mi’gmaq & Wolastoqiyik leadership began lobbying. This lobbying resulted in Minister Bennett agreeing to fund research by New Brunswick First Nations to determine a new way forward for the Mi’gmaq and Wolastoqiyik communities. It happened in three phases:
Phase 1
- In 2016-2017, the First Nations leadership in the Atlantic, alongside ISC, began a research initiative (Phase 1) to study the existing social assistance program on reserves in the province.
- This initiative found that among other things:
- First Nations are underfunded and shortfalls in social assistance are often addressed at the expense of other programming or the band’s own source revenue.
- Social assistance on-reserve does not adequately respond to the realities that recipients face.
- There was insufficient case management support and funding for Social Development Administrators and other related staff.
- This initiative found that among other things:
Phase 2
- ISC and the Chiefs gathered data and information to identify options available to our 15 communities. It was agreed that they would pursue social reform, including design of their own culturally appropriate policy with case management, and rates linked to the cost of living. Lastly, there was consensus to move toward self government.
- A new social assistance policy was drafted for New Brunswick First Nations by their First Nations Social Development Administrators. The new policy is titled The Mi’gmaq & Wolastoqiyik Social Development Policy.
- Phase 2 also resulted in a recommendation for the creation of a central body (Support Lodge) to support all 15 New Brunswick First Nations communities in the development and interpretation of a culturally-based social development policy, as well as training, networking among SDAs, supporting appeals, and providing other supports.
Phase 3
- Based on the recommendations of the Phase 2 report, the New Brunswick Chiefs worked with ISC to implement reform of the social assistance program through:
- Developing our own First Nations social assistance policy (which is being finalized), including increased rates for recipients to reflect the current cost of living, and;
- Introducing case management: Case management is the partnership between the case management administrator/social development administrator and client to facilitate care coordination and advocacy for services available to meet the client’s needs. This includes assisting with and referring access to health, financial, educational, and employment and training supports in collaboration with other service providers in the community in order to facilitate a wholistic approach to self reliance through wraparound services.
Today the Mi’gmaq/Wolastoqiyik Social Development Support Lodge is fully operational. Planned activities include SDA professional development and support as well as improving the appeals process.