On April 25th and 26th, Social Innovation Canada’s Manitoba Hub partnered with Red River College’s Indigenous Social Innovation program to support an Indigenous-led two day gathering, titled “Pathways to Economic Reconciliation: Is Social Entrepreneurship a step forward?”
Over 80 people attending, including Indigenous high school students from both urban and Northern Indigenous communities, student’s of Red River College’s Indigenous Social Innovation program, social economy leaders and government for a full day of ceremony followed by a one-day social hack-a-thon to answer some of today’s most pressing issues in indigenous communities.
Conversations focused on four key areas:
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- How can we make housing more affordable and sustainable in our communities?
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- How can we produce more fresh, affordable food in our communities?
- How can we get more investment into First Nations to spark social entrepreneurship?
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- How can we make mental health supports more accessible in our communities?
After the success of this inaugural event, there are plans developing for an annual gathering to continue supporting Indigenous leadership in the social innovation sector and building momentum towards long-term change for First Nations communities.”
– Kalen Taylor is the Executive Director of Purpose Construction and the Atlantic Canada “Weaver” for Social Innovation Canada, through which she works to give a stronger national profile to the work in Manitoba and connect local practitioners to a national network of changemakers.
