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NLIS 5
March 2, 2006
(Executive Council)
 

Ministers announce provinces first conference for Aboriginal women

Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women, and Tom Rideout, Minister Responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, announced today plans for an Aboriginal women�s conference in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, March 13-15, 2006.

Representatives from all Aboriginal groups in the province will participate in the conference, the first of its kind in Newfoundland and Labrador. It will provide an opportunity for Aboriginal women to connect, share experiences and plan steps necessary to improve the quality of life in their communities.

"It will be a powerful gathering that will help strengthen Aboriginal women�s voices and help define the social, economic and political agendas of their communities," said Minister Burke. "The recommendations brought forward during the conference will help the provincial, federal and Aboriginal governments address the issues and concerns of Aboriginal women."

The conference is being planned by a committee of eight women who have been nominated by the leaders of Aboriginal organizations, with help from the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs and the Women�s Policy Office. Consultations were held by Aboriginal women in 26 communities across the province to determine the objectives of the conference.

Early in their mandate, Premier Williams and Minister Burke saw firsthand the issues and needs of Aboriginal women when they traveled to communities along Labrador�s north coast. This trip strengthened their commitment to Aboriginal women and ultimately lead to initial plans for the conference.

Zippie Nochasak, the newly appointed Status of Women Minister for the Nunatsiavut Government, will be one of the keynote speakers for the event. "It's good to see the province recognizing the unique needs of Aboriginal women in Labrador," said Minister Nochasak. "This conference is the starting point of a new relationship � it starts by giving women from all the Labrador Inuit Communities a chance to have our say."

Ministers Nochasak and Burke met last week in St. John�s to discuss how they will work together on women�s issues. Minister Nochasak said she is pleased that Minister Burke has agreed to help Nunatsiavut in their goal to improve the lives of Inuit Women and, with help from the Province, Nunatsiavut will respond to the concerns raised at the upcoming conference.

The theme of the conference will be "The Path to the Good Life for Aboriginal Women". At the conference women will have an opportunity to recognize and honour their strengths and to organize themselves with others from their community. They will present to governments their changes and suggestions to better the quality of life for Aboriginal women and their communities.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, through the Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs and the Women's Policy Office, is providing $80,000 in funding for the conference.

"It is very important for this Government to be able to hear directly from Aboriginal women on their issues and potential solutions," said Minister Rideout. "Government will help enable implementation of those solutions, and this conference is the first step toward making that happen."

"This is an important and timely opportunity for Aboriginal women to unite and to share issues that matter to us," said Kelly Drew, a representative on the planning committee and community leader. "This is our chance to tell our realities and to speak about our visions for living the good life."

Delegates for the conference are being nominated by the planning committee and will include balanced representation from Aboriginal groups from regions across the province.

A report containing the outcomes of the conference will be developed by the facilitator and made available to the public.

Media contact: Catherine Whelan, Women�s Policy Office, 729-6225

Lori Lee Oates, Aboriginal Affairs, 729-3733, 690-8403

2006 03 02                             12:50 p.m.


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