WINNIPEG, Jan. 24, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Bell Let's Talk is
pleased to announce a donation of $150,000 to Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK) to expand its mental health services for Indigenous youth in Winnipeg that encourage healing and resiliency through programs to develop life skills.
Founded in 2001 by Larry Morrissette, an Elder, community leader and activist, OPK is an
Indigenous organization that works with any and all youth and young adults, primarily between the ages of 18 and 29, with a focus
on cultural sensitive programming. Most participants come to OPK upon release from provincial or federal Institutions, including
children in care who are transitioning out of the system. The majority of participants are further marginalized through the
inter-generational impact of Indian Residential Schools (IRS) and the experience of living in environments of poverty as a direct
result of being forcefully removed from their original land base.
"The vast majority of those who access Ogijiita
Pimatiswin Kinamatwin and its programming are Indigenous youth and people who are at risk of becoming or who are currently
experiencing conflict with the law, individuals "aging out" of the Child Welfare System and those generationally affected by the
Indian Residential Schools," said Mitch Bourbonniere, OPK Program Services Director. "We welcome
this funding from Bell Let's Talk to support the vision to help heal our people that our late, admired and respected founder
Larry Morrissette had for OPK."
"Bell Let's Talk is proud to support OPK to expand the work they do to ensure Indigenous youth in the community have access to
mental health programs that will help them heal and develop resiliency to strengthen themselves and their communities," said
Mary Deacon, Chair of Bell Let's Talk. "OPK is making a real difference in the lives of young
people in Winnipeg and we look forward to working with them to expand their reach in the years
ahead."
Funding from Bell Let's Talk will help OPK secure additional staff to implement OPK programming, which currently includes
ensuring basic needs (food, housing, safety, socialization, clothing, etc.) of 75 new participants each year are met and
fostering the life skills required to increase their capacity for resiliency. Additionally, OPK staff will provide youth with
training and experiential learning to help recognize and prevent harm within their own lives and within their communities. This
includes access to mentorship, cultural and land-based teachings and ceremony, counseling, and relationship-building
opportunities that address harm resulting from the legacy of the IRS. OPK will also provide interim work opportunities to youth
and young adults who are at risk of conflict with the law. With the support of Bell Let's Talk, OPK will increase its reach to
approximately 600 young people a year by 2022.
Alongside the launch of Bell MTS in Manitoba, Bell Let's Talk announced it would be expanding
in the province with a new dedicated fund for Indigenous mental health. Today's announcement is the second major commitment from
the fund, which launched in May 2017 with a donation to Ma Mawi Wi Chi Itata. The Bell Let's Talk team continues to consult with leaders from Manitoba Indigenous
communities on plans for future program funding announcements.
Bell Let's Talk Day is January 31
OPK joins Bell in inviting everyone to take part in the mental health conversation on Bell Let's Talk Day. Bell will
donate 5 cents to Canadian mental health programs for each of these interactions on January 31, at no extra cost to participants:
- Text and talk: Every text message, mobile and long distance call made by Bell Canada and
Bell MTS customers
- Twitter: Every tweet using #BellLetsTalk and Bell Let's Talk Day video view
- Facebook: Every view of the Bell Let's Talk Day video at Facebook.com/BellLetsTalk and use of the Bell Let's Talk frame
- Instagram: Every Bell Let's Talk Day video view
- Snapchat: Every use of the Bell Let's Talk filter and video view
Bell Let's Talk Day 2017 set all new records with 131,705,010 messages, growing Bell's funding for Canadian mental health by
$6,585,250.50. #BellLetsTalk was Canada's top hashtag in 2017, and is now the most used Twitter
hashtag ever in Canada.
With approximately 729,065,654 interactions by Canadians over the last 7 Bell Let's Talk Days, Bell's total commitment to
mental health, including an original $50-millionanchor donation in 2010, has risen to $86,504,429.05. Bell expects its donation commitment to reach at least $100 million in 2020. To learn
more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk .
About Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin
Ogijiita Pimatiswin Kinamatwin (OPK) was established in 2001 by the late and renowned Larry
Morrissette, a leader with a strong vision to create opportunities and healing for both Indigenous and non Indigenous
people.
OPK provides holistic and culturally based supports to 225 participants who are working to make change in their lives, many of
whom have been inter-generationally impacted by the legacy of the Indian Residential School (IRS) System. Staff is available 21
hours a day 7 days a week by phone to participants. As appropriate, OPK assists participants with basic needs, life skills,
cultural opportunities, and training and advocacy related to educational and employment opportunities.
OPK and its programming serve Indigenous Youth and people who are at risk of becoming or who are currently experiencing
conflict with the law, individuals "aging out" of the Child Welfare System and those generationally affected by the IRS. To learn
more about OPK, please visit OPKManitoba.com.
For more information:
Mitch Bourbonniere
OPK
bourbonn@mymts.net
204-795-1741
Jeremy Sawatzky
Bell MTS
jeremy.sawatzky@bellmts.ca
204-391-2849
SOURCE Bell Canada
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