About this project

Having access to the right information can change lives for the better.

This tool is the result of a strategic collaboration between Matawa First Nations Management (FNM) and 211 North, which is operated by the Lakehead Social Planning Council.

Connecting persons leaving custody with resources designed to support the transition into their home communities is important for supporting their overall well-being, and reducing their likelihood of returning to a correctional institution.

Based on the recognition of the need for a tool containing current information about resources available to support our recently incarcerated neighbors, Matawa FNM embarked on a journey to build the New Beginnings directory.

The final tool represents over fourteen months of collaboration and engagement with providers and persons with lived experience of incarceration in the Thunder Bay area. Between October 2022 and December 2023, dozens of discussions about the structure and sustainability of the information contained in the New Beginning directory occurred, which informed the evolution of the tool.

The project team acknowledges the support of the Indigenous Primary Health Care Council for this important work. The current design was introduced in January 2024 and would not be possible if not for the dedication of the following agencies:

 

For requests to update information included in the inventory, please email  updates@211north.ca. For more information about the New Beginnings directory please email: info@211north.ca.