The Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Program for the past year ‘07/’08 saw some exciting developments and increased information and education for Métis citizens across the province.

A new Addictions Wellness Coordinator started in July of 2007 moving the Responsible Gambling Program forward with fresh ideas and new ways to provide quality information for the Métis Nation of Ontario and it’s citizens.

In November of 2007 a new office was set up in Welland for the Responsible Gambling Coordinator. The office space allows for the coordination, distribution and implementation of the Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Program for the Métis Nation of Ontario.

Articles were written and published in the Voyageur in the fall 2007 edition entitled, “Out of Luck, Local Métis Strikes It Rich”, in the 2007 Christmas edition an article called, “Holiday Cheer”, and in the March 2008 edition an article entitled, “To Play or Not To Play”

Gambling Information updates were submitted throughout the year to the MNO website for freshening up and delivery of the latest responsible gambling information.

A new brochure was created outlining Aboriginal gambling history and specific information pertaining to Aboriginal gamblers. The pamphlets were distributed to all of our offices with health care services.

Pamphlets, brochures and gambling information workbooks were sent to all MNO sites for distribution and dissemination throughout the communities.

Two new posters were developed to bring awareness to gambling and the issues surrounding gambling.

Five power point presentations were developed to assist in presenting information at Aboriginal Responsible gambling workshops and presentations. The power point presentations are available to anyone who would like to present at the community level. The power point presentations cover such topics as gambling history, gambling facts and ideas for more responsible forms of gambling.

Workshops and presentations providing awareness and information updates on responsible gambling were carried out in several of our communities including Thunder Bay, Sault Ste. Marie, Port McNicol, Owen Sound, Fort Frances, Brampton, Sudbury, Hamilton, North Bay, Renfrew, Windsor, Dryden, Kenora and Welland.

The MNO represented by the Addictions Wellness Coordinator participated and sat at the table with the Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Strategy Committee (ARGSC) consisting of several different Aboriginal groups including Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centers (OFIFC), Grand Council Treaty 3, Association of Iroquois and Allied Indians (IAIA), Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) and Independent First Nations (IFN). The committee looked at collective ways to offer responsible gambling information to Aboriginal people in the most efficient and productive manner.

The Métis Nation of Ontario Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Steering Committee was formed in the fall of 2007 with it’s first meeting on December 5 2007. The committee consists of representatives from both the north and south portions of the province including Dryden, Sault Ste. Marie, North Bay, Welland and Ottawa. The steering committee provides direction and offers guidance to the coordinator with respect to quality programming for the gambling strategy. The committee meets at least 4 times per year and normally uses our video conferencing equipment within our own communities.

Also in the fall of 2007 the MNO Health Branch had their annual training week at the Providence Care training facility in Kingston. One portion of the training involved a session entitled “Addictions and Gambling”, providing the health workers with valuable skill upgrades and refreshers in gambling awareness.

On January 23, 2008 the health branch was provided training on the video and facilitators guide entitled “Gambling Addiction is not Part of my Heritage”. This training was done by OFIFC in partnership with our own Addictions Wellness Coordinator using the video that OFIFC had developed. The 1 day training once again made use of our video conferencing equipment, the first time that training on the video through use of video conferencing was used.

During the final quarter of the fiscal year a video was produced entitled “Aboriginal Gambling, Métis Elders Speak Out”. The video explores gambling related issues through the use of stories and opinions of Métis people. The video is available on the MNO website and copies have been distributed to all MNO offices. The video will be followed up with the creation of a facilitators guide early in the new fiscal year.

It was a very productive final 6 months of the 2007/08 fiscal year for the Aboriginal Responsible Gambling Initiative. New ideas and new ways of providing updated, accurate and quality information were the core of the delivery message for the program. Staff participation and volunteer efforts once again were a big part of the success of the gambling program for another year. The new fiscal year promises to bring more new and innovative ways of delivering quality programming to all of our Métis citizens throughout the province concerning responsible and safe gambling practices, providing improved health and wellness for all.