NLIS 2
September 8, 2006
(Executive Council)
Minister congratulates
Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation
Joan Burke, Minister Responsible for the
Status of Women, extends congratulations to the Sheshatshiu Innu First
Nation on hosting the Innu Women�s Conference to be held in Newfoundland
and Labrador for the first time.
The conference, titled Innu Ishkueut Healing Journey, originated from a
workshop on Violence Against Women, and has grown into an event
involving over 200 women from Innu communities in Quebec as well as
Labrador. The conference will provide a woman�s-only space in which to
discuss means of preventing violence within Innu communities.
�I am delighted by the leadership that has been shown by the Sheshatshiu
Innu First Nation�, said Minister Burke. �It is clear that the women of
this community are dedicated to violence prevention and to working
together to make a difference for the future.�
The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador provided $10,000 in funding
to the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation to support this unique project. �I
would like to thank Minister Burke, and the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador for the contribution to this year�s annual Innu Women�s
Conference,� said Chief Anastasia Qupee. �Without community and
government support, important meetings such as this would not be
possible.�
�I commend the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation for taking the initiative
to host what is sure to be a very successful conference,� said Tom
Rideout, Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs. �This project will
facilitate the sharing of ideas and it will certainly generate
meaningful discussions regarding violence prevention in Innu
communities. The outcomes of the conference will be instrumental as we
move forward with our Violence Prevention Initiative, and government
will continue to work with the Innu and all Aboriginal peoples in the
province to enhance the quality of life in Aboriginal communities.�
This is one of eight projects for Aboriginal communities funded in 2006,
totaling approximately $78,000, as part of the Newfoundland and Labrador
government-wide Violence Prevention Initiative: Taking Action against
Violence. This is the second year that this government has provided
funding for the prevention of violence against Aboriginal women and
children and provided services to victims of violence in their
communities.
Last year government funded the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation�s
Aboriginal Women�s Retreat on Violence Prevention. This project
increased awareness of violence among Innu women. The retreat trained
frontline workers, band employees and other women from the community on
the different kinds of violence, signs and symptoms of violence, and how
and where to get help when they are in a violent situation.
This is the second time this year that a conference for Aboriginal women
has been held in this province. In March of 2006 the Government of
Newfoundland of Labrador, in partnership with Aboriginal women�s
communities from across the province, held The Path to the Good Life,
which took place in Happy Valley-Goose Bay. Women from Innu, Inuit,
Mi�kmaq, Labrador Metis Nation, and Aboriginal women living in urban
areas participated in the conference.
The Violence Prevention Initiative is a six-year comprehensive plan of
action and annual investment of $1.25 million by the Government of
Newfoundland and Labrador to increase government and community capacity
to achieve, in the long-term, a reduction in violence against women,
children and youth, Aboriginal women and children, seniors, persons with
disabilities and others who are victims of violence.
The Innu Women�s Conference is set to take place from September 9-13, in
the wilderness about 100 kilometres from the community of Sheshatshiu.
Media contact: Michelle Hynes, Communications, (709) 729-6225
2006 09 08
9:30 a.m. |