Provincial Funds to Combat Racism and Hate
June 29, 2023Funding will support the Anishinabek Nation to increase public education
NIPISSING – Vic Fedeli, MPP for Nipissing, announced that the Ontario government has invested $39,000 to help build a stronger, safer, and more inclusive community. This funding, as part of the government’s Anti-Racism Anti-Hate Grant, has supported the Anishinabek Nation in the development of a free online education resource, De’aabshkoo Gdaawmi: We are all the Same, to help people recognize and act to prevent occurrences of racism towards Indigenous people. The online format of the resource is publicly available on the Anishinabek Nation website, and is suitable for anyone age 12 and up.
“There is no place for hate or intolerance of any kind in our community. No Ontarian, regardless of their background, faith or sexual orientation, should be afraid to express who they are,” said MPP Vic Fedeli. “This critical investment will empower organizations in our community to build a better place for all of us to live, work, and raise a family.”
“De’aabshkoo Gdaawmi: We are all the Same is a unique education resource with built-in Ontario Curriculum expectations that brings to light First Nation peoples’ experience with racism,” said Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Reg Niganobe. “This resource helps fill the current Indigenous education gap within the Ontario Curriculum and helps teachers lead meaningful conversations with students that can extend beyond the classroom. It emphasizes the need to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and highlights the systemic racism that exists within the Indian Act. Educational resources such as these are powerful tools to combat racism and help create a safer space for our most vulnerable demographics.”
The Anti-Racism-Anti Hate Grant was developed in collaboration with community partners. Since 2021, the government has invested nearly $5 million to support 82 projects that build capacity to combat racism and hate, deepen the public’s understanding of it, and support impacted communities.
“There is no place for hate in this province, and we are confident that the Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate Grant will help create more inclusive environments in every corner of Ontario,” said Greg Rickford, Minister of Indigenous Affairs. “By supporting Indigenous-led projects, we are taking action to reduce hate and intolerance within communities through mediums that will achieve real results.”
This investment builds on the government’s recent announcement of an investment of $25.5 million in the new Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant. The grant will provide up to $10,000 to help religious groups, Indigenous communities, and cultural communities better protect and secure their facilities from hate-motivated incidents, graffiti, vandalism, or other damage.