Housing
Naskapi Housing Department handles the housing needs of Kawawachikamach. In tandem with the Department of Public Works of Kawawachikamach, to organize and facilitate repairs and maintenance on the communities’ houses. With the aid of the Housing Committee, all allocations, housing requests, and maintenance are processed and prioritized.
Economic Development
The Naskapi Economic Development Department (NEDD) is part of the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach operations. The Department offers a variety of services with the objective of improving the Nation’s economic autonomy and the quality of life of all its members. Economic development is a very wide field that touches many aspects of community life. Here are the main focuses of our department:
Local entrepreneurship
The Naskapi Economic Development Department wishes to develop and encourage local entrepreneurship and the creation of businesses by its members. To do so, the department offers support to Naskapi beneficiaries that want to start a business or need help with their business endeavours. Help can come in the form of funding assistance through the local CEDO envelope or support and advice, including referrals to specialized organizations and funding agencies. Our objective is to see thriving Naskapi businesses answering the local market needs and improving the community’s quality of life.
Training and Employability
Part of the Naskapi Economic Development Department’s mission is to help Naskapi beneficiaries find quality employment opportunities that improve their professional lives and tap into their full potential and talents. To do so, the Department wants to accumulate knowledge on the available workforce and employment opportunities in the region. The NEDD can support members by informing them of employment opportunities, assisting them in their job applications and CV creation and offering them training through the NLMB envelope.
Business and Industry Relations
The Naskapi Economic Development Department also wishes to improve the Nation’s economic autonomy by playing a proactive role in all economic activities that are taking place on Naskapi traditional land. To do so, the Naskapi Economic Development Department establishes working relationships with the different industries of the region. By working on partnerships, cooperation agreements and good communications, the Naskapi Economic Development Department ensures that the Naskapi not only benefit from those industries but also have a seat at the table and can push for opportunities that are more respectful of the Naskapi values and way of life.
Naskapi Police Force
The Naskapi Police Force will provide safety, security and protection, and community-based policing to Kawawachikamach.
In doing this we shall uphold the highest standard of professionalism, and respect the traditions and culture of the Naskapi Nation.
Department of Public Works
The Department of Public Works (“DPW”) oversees a wide range of activities throughout the Naskapi Nation of Kawawachikamach. It is currently compromised into two categories;
- DPW Operations and Maintenance (“O&M”)
- DPW Capital, Civil and Special Projects (“The Projects”)
The O&M oversees the general maintenance of the Nation’s housing stock, public buildings, water & sewage systems, Kawawachikamach streets, vehicles & heavy machinery, MTQ road (access road to Schefferville), Iron Arm road, and waste management.
The Projects oversees all Nation’s construction projects which include house build projects (“HB Projects”), capital projects and special funding programs.
The DPW also has technical advisors of the Nations, Bruser & Associates Inc. which supports the O&M mandates and its Projects.
Environment
The Environment Office carries the Nation’s land protection, climate and wildlife files. Its work includes the Nunavik protected areas process and the push to apply the 20% protection target to Naskapi territory, the Naskapi Climate Action Plan, and a pilot project with the government of Quebec to explore a Northern Conservation Area within the Naskapi Area of Primary Interest.
The office carries out environmental monitoring and site visits, raising concerns about dust, water quality, access roads, landfill management and wildlife. It runs biodiversity monitoring stations with the MELCCFP and local wildlife officers, and supports the community greenhouse, which grows food locally and gives Jimmy Sandy Memorial School students a place to learn.
The Nation is represented through this office at the Wildlife Management Sub-table, where Cree, Inuit and Naskapi work together on wildlife management under the JBNQA and NEQA, and at the Hunting, Fishing and Trapping Coordinating Committee, where the status of the George River and Leaf River caribou herds is a standing concern.
Hunter Support Program
The Hunter Support Program supports Naskapi harvesting: hunting, fishing and trapping for personal and community purposes, and the activities that go with them. It is established under section 15 of the Northeastern Quebec Agreement, and the Naskapi Village of Kawawachikamach reports on it each year to Quebec’s responsible minister and to Naskapi beneficiaries.
The program’s two largest activities are the community caribou hunt and the spring goose hunt. Harvest from the community hunt is distributed to Elders and other community members, and hunters who cannot hunt for themselves are provided for. The Hunter Support Program Committee approves the trips and the allowances.
Naskapi Community Centre
The Naskapi Community Centre runs the Community Hall, the Multi-Purpose Room and the Youth Centre, and all three are available to rent for birthdays, meetings, feasts and community events.
It runs the After-School Program for elementary students through the year and the Summer Day Camp for eight weeks each summer, along with youth activities and evenings for adults in the Hall.
The Centre also hosts Culture Week, where Naskapi Elders teach community members and Jimmy Sandy Memorial School students: making pemmican, sewing moccasins, traditional medicine, and butchering, skinning and preserving every part of the caribou.
Kathleen Tooma Beautiful Dawn Centre
The Kathleen Tooma Beautiful Dawn Centre works to prevent and intervene in family violence, and provides a safe place for women and children, both in-house and out-of-house. It serves about 100 women a year, including women from neighbouring communities.
Support is led by what each woman wants to pursue, with guidance from health services where that is needed. The Centre advocates for clients in judicial and youth protection procedures, bridges communication with other services in the community, and works alongside the Naskapi Police Force, CLSC Naskapi, the Wellness Programs, the Culture Programs and Jimmy Sandy Memorial School.
Naskapi Fire Department
The Naskapi Fire Department operates under the authority of Council. It is responsible for fire suppression and rescue, fire prevention, and public fire safety education. Its firefighters work in two teams and train through the École nationale des pompiers du Québec, SOPFEU, and in-house sessions.
The Department runs fire drills at Jimmy Sandy Memorial School and Sachidun Childcare Centre, marks Fire Prevention Week with the school each October, and holds a Junior Firefighters Camp and Challenge over March break. When a fire is larger than one community can handle, it works with the Schefferville, Matimekush and Lac John fire departments.
Naskapi Wellness
Naskapi Wellness promotes positive activities and initiatives in Kawawachikamach. It runs the Wellness Centre, sharing circles, workshops and conferences including the Honouring Life Conference, and one-on-one sessions.
Jordan’s Principle is delivered through Naskapi Wellness. Jordan’s Principle is a child-first rule: First Nations children get the products, services and supports they need, and questions about which government pays are settled afterwards rather than first.
Naskapi Relief Services
Naskapi Relief Services helps Naskapi families when someone passes away. When a death happens away from the community, it brings the person home to Kawawachikamach. It helps with funeral arrangements and with the costs that come with them, and it runs community bingos.
Sachidun Childcare Centre
Sachidun Childcare Centre is the Nation’s childcare centre, at 1018 Naskapi Road. It runs in Naskapi and English, with infant, toddler, pre-school and pre-kindergarten groups.
Culture and Recreation
Culture and Recreation runs the Naskapi Recreation Facility, the Saakichiwaaw Climbing Wall and the baseball field, and organizes sports, outdoor and community activities through the year.