We apologize to all those we missed such as the student services at the Cree School Board on 277 Duke Street. They have great facilities at their drop-in and don’t drop-out center. Computers are available, a kitchen and a library. A good place to relax. Students can contact them at 514-878-9995.

Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay

The Public Health Module – Cree region (PHM), acts as a public health department of the Cree Board of Health and Social Services of James Bay (CBHSSJB). Its main functions are to support health promotion, to plan disease prevention and control programs and applied public health research; and to produce and distribute statistics on diseases, injuries and their determinants, in the nine James Bay Cree communities.

Both the Public Health Module and Cree Patients Services (Montreal) were part of the Northern Quebec Module established in 1978. While Montreal Patients Services were transferred to the CBHSSJB in 1995, the Public Health Module is still under the jurisdiction of the Direction de la Santé Publique of the Regie Régionale de ia Santé et des Services Sociaux de Montreal-Centre.

The Cree Board of Health and Social Services can help set up appointments for Crees in Montreal to see eye doctors, dentists and medical specialists. This is done under Patient Services by phoning 514-989-2352.

To get information on health promotion, disease control and prevention and other programs Public Health Services can be reached at 514-861 -2352.

The offices are located at 277 Duke Street, Montreal, Quebec.

Quebec Native Women

Founded in 1974, Quebec Native Women represents Aboriginal women in Quebec.

We are a bilingual organization and a member of the Native Women’s Association of Canada.

We support Aboriginal women in their efforts to better their lives and living conditions through the promotion of nonviolence, justice and equality. We also empower women in their commitment to their communities. We are made up of 38 local organizations grouped according to their nation and of 3 urban organizations. Ending family violence within aboriginal communities is a major priority for the Association. Our other priority issues include justice, employment issues, education, child care, health, problems of alcohol and drug abuse and social services. To this day, more than 1,500 women are active members of QNW. Any women descendant of the First Nations in Canada aged 16 years or over, residing in the province of Quebec, may become a member of the Association. For more information concerning our organization or our membership, please contact us at: Quebec Native Women, 460 Ste-Catherine West, suite 503, Montreal, Quebec, H3B 1A7. Phone: (514) 954-9991. Fax: (514) 954-1899. E-mail: qnwafaq@microtec.net

The Awasis Centre (Aboriginal Early Learning Centre of Montreal)

The Aboriginal community of Montreal is the largest and most diversified urban Aboriginal population in the province of Quebec, and includes members of each of Quebec’s Aboriginal nations as well as members of Aboriginal nations from other provinces in Canada and in the United States. This community faces several issues which places its children at risk, including poverty, violence, racism, substance abuse, single-parent families, mental health problems, lack of education and lack of adequate services. Several Aboriginal children are also placed in foster care in Montreal, and a large proportion of these foster homes is nonnative, resulting in a loss of cultural identity.

This community nevertheless has a better awareness of its situation and demonstrates an increased desire to develop community-based, culturally appropriate services, of which is the Awasis Centre.

The Awasis Centre is a preschool for children aged 0 to 5, its program address the needs of young Aboriginal children living in urban centres.

Awasis is a comprehensive program designed to meet the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical needs of the child.

The Awasis Centre is a non-profit organization funded by Health Canada, that sees the parent/caregiver as the natural advocate of the child and whose primary concern is the health and well-being of Aboriginal children. We will assist children and their families in their growth and development, in order to improve their quality of life. Our aim is to give a “head start” to the children in our community.

The Awasis Centre’s mandate is to :

*Foster the spiritual, emotional, intellectual and physical growth of each child;

*Foster a desire in the child for lifelong learning;

*Support parents and guardians as the prime teachers and caregivers of their children, making sure parents/caregivers play a key role in the planning, development, operation and evaluation of the program.

At Awasis Centre, we include the following components:

*Culture and language

*Education

*Health promotion

*Nutrition

*Social support programs

*Parental involvement

As a result of a continued relationship with the RCMP Aboriginal Policing Section (Fern Breau), a Van was donated to our Centre. It was a big help to pickup donations from community members when two of our Awasis families were struck with tragedy when their homes burn down last month.

In conclusion, our Centre is now an integral part of the Montreal region urban Aboriginal community. We have an excellent dedicated team of parents, staff and volunteers eager to assist our little ones in their formative years. In the community spirit, Awasis was born and in that same spirit, it lives. (If you wish to volunteer, inquire about our program or visit us… our address follows)

In Peace and Learning

Linda Arkwright, E.D. and the Awasis Team

Awasis Centre

639 Notre-Dame Ouest

Montreal, Qc, H3C 1H8

Phone: (514) 398-9528 Fax:(514) 398-9805

E-Mail: linda@awasis.com