WSIB providing $4 million in funding over the next four years
Nokiiwin Tribal Council and the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) are partnering to improve workplace health, safety and well-being in Ontario’s Indigenous communities. Under the Nagachidisin – CARE (Collaborate, Assess, Respond, Evaluate/Educate) program partnership, the WSIB will provide $4 million in funding to Nokiiwin over the next four years.
“When we talk about health and safety from an Indigenous lens, our worldview doesn’t begin with ‘me’, it begins with ‘we.’ Community is at the heart of how we care for one another,” said Audrey Gilbeau, executive director/governance advisor of Nokiiwin Tribal Council. “When the workplace becomes a space where people feel safe to speak, supported to heal, and valued for who they are, then the ripple effect carries into homes and communities. That’s where true safety and wellness begin.”
The funding will help Nokiiwin lead various projects to foster positive health and safety outcomes for Ontario’s Indigenous communities, including:
- establishing and growing a dedicated team to deliver health and safety programs tailored to Indigenous communities and businesses across Ontario.
- facilitating research to gather information on health and safety, mental health and the return-to-work needs of Indigenous communities.
- providing recommendations to the WSIB on how to improve education and relationships within Indigenous communities.
“We’re committed to coming together with Indigenous communities and Indigenous-led businesses to learn about their unique needs,” said Jeff Lang, WSIB President and CEO. “Partnering with Nokiiwin Tribal Council will allow us to work alongside Indigenous and First Nation communities to ensure improved services and help strengthen workplace health and safety practices in Ontario.”
Partnering with Nokiiwin Tribal Council supports the WSIB’s broader efforts to deepen the organization’s understanding of Indigenous perspectives and knowledge while fostering respectful relationships as part of their work towards Reconciliation.
