NEWS RELEASE
NIIGAANIIN SERVICES
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Mamaweswen, The North Shore Tribal Council and Serpent River First Nation are very proud to announce a recently launched collaboration with the Government of Ontario to deliver ServiceOntario services to Indigenous people in the Robinson Huron Treaty area.
On Oct. 18 at 1 p.m., Niigaaniin Services will host a grand opening of the recently opened ServiceOntario centre at the Serpent River Trading Post. This will come from community leaders, as well as light refreshments and snacks.
“I would like to thank the Province of Ontario for coming to the table ready to discuss how bringing services directly to the People could be executed in the Robinson-Huron Treaty Area,” said Elizabeth Richer, director of Niigaaniin Services. “Currently, members from the eight communities we serve must commute to locations located in municipalities and townships, some with longer distances to travel than others. This is an outside-the-box approach to transform how we serve community members.”
A brick-and-mortar location in the Serpent River Trading Post opened in August 2022. Various ministries have come together to support this initiative, led by the Ministry of Public and Business Service Delivery and supported by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation. Services for the Ministry of Natural Resources are scheduled to be added by year's end.
The second phase is set to launch in the coming months once all ServiceOntario services can be delivered to the mobile unit. This model ensures that Niigaaniin Services can travel to all the communities and villages along the North Shore to allow people to access the service where they live.
Early successes at the Serpent River Trading Post location include:
• Providing integrated government support and service delivery to community members, of which 80 per cent of total transactions are licence plate renewals.
• Excellent customer reviews from people far and wide travelling on the Trans Canada Highway.
• Mamaweswen Communities and Community Members have shown their support by coming in and accessing the services.
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