New Directions – Opikhiwawin

New Directions is a non profit community organization that provides extensive programming that serves specialized programs for children, youth, adults, and families from all walks of life. They offer a variety of services that range from residential placements, cultural programming, educational services, and more. The New Directions vision statement captures the framework of the organization by stating: “a community where all people have well-being, are honoured, and can dream”. This embodies the beauty of the Opikhiwawin Program offered through New Directions. Opikhiwawin is a program designed to provide cultural education opportunities to Indigenous adoptees and foster people. The Opikhiwawin program believes that all Indigenous fosters and adoptees has an inherent right to experience their culture. Due to the effects of colonization, First Nations people in Canada face challenges when seeking out cultural opportunites as cultural knowledge could be limited. Programs like Opikhiwawin seek to address those challenges and provide opportunities for Indigenous fosters and adoptees to experience their culture to build a positive sense of belonging.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shauna MacKinnon

Student:

Partner:

New Directions

Discipline:

Sociology

Sector:

Education; Health and Related Sciences & Technology

University:

University of Winnipeg

Program: