The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women�s Network will offer 90 community-based violence prevention and awareness sessions in different regions of the province this winter with $30,000 in funding under the Provincial Government�s Violence Prevention Initiative.

A total of eight sessions covering dating violence, bullying, emotional-psychological violence, sexual assault, domestic abuse, Aboriginal leadership and governance will be offered twice in each region. The sessions will be held in the Bay St. George�s-Stephenville Region, Benoit�s Cove, Central Newfoundland, Conne River and Bartlett�s Harbor.

"This is our third year providing funding specifically to provide services related to the prevention of violence against Aboriginal women and children in the community," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative. "Improving education and raising awareness of violence prevention assists in the creation of safer communities."

The $30,000 for this project is part of the Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program, a component of the $9.2-million, six-year Violence Prevention Initiative.

This year�s contribution builds on previous support provided to the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women�s Network to assist vulnerable Aboriginal women and promote community wellness. This investment has supported the training of 40 facilitators and promoted cultural and spiritual healing and wellness, community involvement and awareness of the issues of violence against women at the community level.

"The goal of these sessions is for Aboriginal women to apply their newly-gained leadership and facilitation skills in their local communities and to influence change," said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. "These women will then be able to raise awareness on violence prevention and deliver culturally-sensitive violence prevention workshops in their own communities."

The Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program addresses a priority action item determined at the first National Aboriginal Women�s Summit (NAWS) in Corner Brook in June 2007. During the summit, it was recognized that increased financial resources for family violence prevention initiatives and abuse prevention are necessary to improve the quality of life and well-being of Aboriginal women and families. This year, a total of $127,600 is being invested in seven projects across the province.

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2008 11 27                                                      3:00 p.m.