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Executive Council Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs December 18, 2008
Funding Promotes Journey of Healing Among Innu Women The Provincial Government is contributing $26,000 for two programs developed by the Sheshatshui Innu First Nation to educate Aboriginal women about issues around violence and encourage them to be leaders in violence prevention. "Our government is working with Aboriginal groups on ways to improve the lives of Aboriginal people throughout the province," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Lead Minister for the Violence Prevention Initiative. "We hope that in addressing the issue of violence through these programs, we are encouraging women and their communities to stop violence and to spread the message." The $26,000 for these programs 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 is enabling the Sheshatshui Innu First
Nation to hold a healing journey for women. The meeting brings together
women from communities throughout Labrador to improve their knowledge of
violence in the community. The goal is that, with improved knowledge,
more women will recognize the different types of abuse and take action
to report any incidents they experience or witness. The funding is also sending three delegates from the
Sheshatshui Innu First Nation to a conference in Montreal, Quebec, on
community healing strategies and coping mechanisms for victims of
violence. "Addressing the concerns of Aboriginal women is a
priority for this government and we are pleased to fund these programs
through the Violence Prevention Initiative," said the Honourable Patty
Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. "By seeing to it that Aboriginal
women come together and share their collective experiences and
knowledge, these programs will allow a true healing journey to take
place." The first National Aboriginal Women�s Summit (NAWS)
held in Corner Brook in June 2007 identified 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. The Aboriginal Women�s Violence
Prevention Grants Program addresses this priority. This year, $127,600
is being invested in seven projects across the province under the
program. - 30 -
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2008 12 18 9:55 a.m. |
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