President’s Message

I am both proud and particularly honoured to ensure the Presidency of our Foundation, which from my point of view, presents a formidable project in order to inform and sensitize the aboriginal population of Quebec on the nature and effects of addiction to gambling.

Gambling has long been an aspect of traditions among aboriginal culture. In the past, gambling had its place during ceremonies and celebrations inside the community when it was used to teach different skills.

The traditional use of gambling has changed, but the definition is nonetheless the same: the gambling means betting money or valuables on an activity whose outcome is unpredictable.

GOAL OF THE CAMPAIGN

As it is essential in an awareness campaign to reach the greatest number of people and create a common language for different generations, the targeted clients referred by the project are as much the youth, the parents, the elders, and the various stakeholders. Thus, in looking for the whole community, people will speak the same preventive language on issues related to gambling, the prevalence, which is very high, its negative consequences, and efficient and practical ways for that gambling remains a game!

Giving back knowledge and ways for people to become themselves positive resources, available to other members of the community, are an important and beneficial long-term strategy. Thus, acting with small groups in order to inform and discuss the issue of gambling is the purpose of this campaign. The latter does not pretend to dictate its way to participants, but simply to reach the most people as possible in order to spread an epidemic prevention on gambling.

Designed by our aboriginal stakeholders, the awareness campaign will take place over three years. The Kanatha Foundation team will visit 15 aboriginal communities in the first year, thirteen communities in the second year and 13 communities in the third year. The team intervention in each community will take place over two days. The two days will be for stakeholders in the community.

In closing, let me thank our donors, mainly the “Fondation Mise sur toi”. I make myself the messenger of the members of the Kanatha Foundation and its stakeholders to say “Thank you”. Thank you for believing in the work of our Foundation, to its investments, in its results, its positive impact for all the First Nations communities targeted by our project.

Your contribution makes of your organizations, the real agents of change and improvement of conditions of aboriginal people who live with a gambling problem.

Germain Paul, a member of the Innue Nation
President
Kanatha Foundation