A collaborative program for organizational capacity building
This year, we’re going to be using the arts to explore food security, creative entrepreneurship and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Sustainable Development Goals.
This proposed project will develop and pilot a program to better understand implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the Government of Canada’s Action Plan for implementation, in this case with a focus on urban and Northern non-profit organizational and ecosystem capacity building. As an emergent, regionally and locally-focused community development initiative, this arts and participatory program will co-design objectives, including enhancing community understanding of UNDRIP, facilitating basic awareness and understanding of UNDA, promoting basic legal and rights literacy, while fostering a sense of empowerment.
The effort to reconstitute a new iteration of the Youth Media Team post-pandemic and to enhance organizational communications and technical capacity is a strategic response to critical needs identified within collaborating partner organizations and partners.
Proposed activities are also co-developed to align with priorities of the Arctic and Northern Policy Framework, the Federal Pathway to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ People and the Framework to Build a Green Prairies Economy.
As an exploratory initiative, we plan to co-develop and pilot workshops, symposia and cross-sectoral roundtable dialogues that support relationship development and engagement. These activities will be used to communicate the principles and relevance of UNDRIP in everyday life, and will be expressed through storytelling, visual and mixed-media arts. Through structured workshops and targeted outreach initiatives, it works to raise awareness and facilitate a deeper understanding of the implications of implementing the UN Declaration Act (UNDA).
Unlike previous iterations primarily focused on community engagement, this new initiative prioritizes internal and external ecosystem capacity building, aiming to address organizational health, knowledge gaps, and significant communication deficiencies. Establishing a comprehensive training program modeled after traditional newsroom, agency or communications department internship structures, the project seeks to empower organizations to communicate effectively, engage stakeholders, and rejuvenate their overall capacity. Additionally, introducing emerging technologies such as AI and machine learning, the project aims to further support organizational development efforts, particularly within Indigenous communities, by co-designing AI-supported interventions rooted in traditional values. Through a Community-Based Participatory AI Research approach, the initiative aspires to foster cultural sensitivity, inclusivity, and empowerment, ultimately contributing to broader discussions on ethical AI development and Indigenous data sovereignty.
Proposed activities align with UNDRIP Articles 3, 4, 5, 7, 14, 18-21, 23-26, 29, 31, 32 and 39, emphasizing capacity building for self-determination, sustainable development, and organizational resilience through the adoption and use of new technologies. Additionally, it aims to contribute to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Employment), empowering board members, staff and volunteers with early career skills development, mentorship and learning opportunities. This project targets UNDRIP Action Plan shared priorities 14, 30, 35, 48, 86, 87, 89, 90, 100, 101, 102. It also works in support of SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) and, most importantly, SDG 1 (No Poverty). The proposed intersectional models for this project will build on prior research and existing relationships with the arts and culture economies, food security, and traditional food systems. Innovative, co-developed approaches will directly tackle governance and capacity challenges through organizational development and capacity building.
Would you like to learn more? Check out the /unda project page or contact jamie@niriqatiginnga or Tony@niriqatiginnga.ca for more information on how you can get involved and take part.
