Social Development

Principles of the GGC Social Development Program

This policy manual will change and evolve as the needs of the community and people change. It is the goal of the GGC and member Bands that the policies will evolve to a point where the traditions and culture of the Gitksan will be reflected throughout and that the House and Clans will assume more responsibility in promoting the health and well-being of each member.

The objectives of the social development program will focus on reinforcing the traditional responsibility of caring and supporting all Gitksan and working towards independence and growth away from social assistance to social development.

Social development includes developing educational and employment plans for all able-bodied individuals, focusing on realistic goals with assistance from the extended family House, clan and community.

It is the tradition of the Gitksan to be self sufficient and it is the responsibility of the extended family to assist individual family members in need. Only when traditional family resources are no longer available should one turn to the Band social development program for support. This should never be the first resort, but rather the last. Independence and self sufficiency should be the guiding force of every individual within the context of our traditional tribal culture.

Goals of the GGC Social Development Program (2006)

Individuals:

•To develop skills to seek and maintain financial independence through employment or business ownership
•To develop confidence in making decisions that affect one’s future through education or employment plans
•To develop the ability to make decisions and choices leading to self reliance

Extended Family and House:

•To strengthen traditional family responsibilities of caring for all.
•To provide assistance and guidance to all family members working towards independence and self reliance.
•To provide moral, and in some cases financial, support to family/House members as opposed to reliance on social assistance programs.

Community:

•To develop resources and programs that will assist individuals and families to become self reliant within the context of our traditional tribal culture.
•To encourage individuals to seek alternatives to social assistance through education, counselling and/or employment plans.
•To discourage individual and family reliance on social assistance programs and to encourage the tradition of caring for each other.

The annual expenditures for social development for the 4 bands is approximately 3 million dollars each year.

The expenditures include supports for:

• basic income assistance (mostly single males, and far too many children in poverty) includes persons with multiple barriers and persons with disabilities
• shelter costs (often issued to band for social housing or rent to own units; other costs include hydro and wood)
• guardian financial assistance (GFA) to support children living with extended family on an interim basis
• WOP/ASARET - on the job training
• adult in home care (homemaking and meals on wheels)

the Annual Monthly average of community members seeking income assistance for 2010-2011:

• single persons seeking employment: 184 persons/month (across 4 bands)
• one parent family unit: 61 single parents/month (across 4 bands)
• two parent families: 47 families/month (across 4 bands)  
• childless couples: 15 couples/month (across 4 bands)

For a look at BC, the northwest has the highest rates of income assistance and much demand for jobs and training!

Current Situation:

• many single males are not employment ready - need essential skills and literacy supports which may not be available in the community
• families - levels of child poverty are extremely high - up to 50% (or more in some) of all children in each of the 4 bands are at the lowest level of income; need intense supports; food security is an issue
• reasons for not working: lack of jobs, not employment ready and dependent on band supports (SNDS); disconnected from tribal culture
• too many working people refuse to pay rent for the social or band homes they are living in; band office carries the mortgage and deficits - stops any new housing or renovations

Many Successes:

• Bridges to Success - funding for employment and training, silviculture, heavy duty equipment, operations and maintenance, community gardens; a social reinvestment strategy for the 4 bands 
• Essential skills - community based support for literacy and numeracy
• Lifeskills and personal development - assessing strengths and building on them
• Early learning initiatives - to be made available for each child; connects parents to positive learning experiences
• Comprehensive community planning with a community development approach - linking vision of the people with a safe healthy vibrant community...yahoo! community engagement works!!