The Provincial Government is supporting the Nunatsiavut Government�s efforts to raise awareness and encourage open discussion about the issue of violence against women by providing $11,200 towards retreats for Inuit women and an anti-violence poster campaign.

"This is a great opportunity for us to support the Nunatsiavut Government in developing and offering programs to prevent violence against women in Inuit communities in Labrador," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Lead Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative. "Increasing awareness and providing community support systems provides a solid foundation for overcoming and one day eliminating violence against Aboriginal women and all women."

The $11,200 towards these initiatives is part of the Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program, a component of the $9.2-million, six-year Violence Prevention Initiative.

The funding will support the Nunatsiavut Local Women�s Gathering, which are half-day retreats for Inuit women being organized for the communities of Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet, Happy Valley-Goose Bay and North West River. These half-day retreats follow a four-day retreat offered last year that saw women from all Nunatsiavut communities travel to Nain.

This year, women from each community can apply to the Status of Women Office of the Nunatsiavut Government to participate in the half-day retreat in or near their community. These retreats will give women the opportunity to discuss violence-related issues within their community. Each retreat has space for six women.

The funding will also support the printing and distribution costs of an ongoing anti-violence poster campaign. The posters, developed by the Nunatsiavut Resource Centre, will be distributed in Nain, Hopedale, Postville, Makkovik, Rigolet, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, North West River and St. John�s. The poster campaign will raise societal awareness of violence against women and provide women with necessary information on the availability of services within the province and from the Nunatsiavut Government.

"These types of projects improve cultural strength and support among Aboriginal women," said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. "Armed with enhanced knowledge and a sense of community solidarity, Aboriginal women will come to have an increased sense of security."

The Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program addresses a priority action item determined at the first National Aboriginal Women�s Summit 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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