The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs:

Aboriginal Affairs Working Group Addressing Health and Wellness

I rise to inform Honourable Members of the Aboriginal Affairs Working Group meeting that took place in Toronto last week. Ministers responsible for Aboriginal Affairs and leaders of national Aboriginal organizations gathered to see how governments and Aboriginal leaders can work more effectively to improve the circumstances for First Nation, Inuit and Métis people. I am pleased to acknowledge the participation of President Jim Lyall and Senior Negotiator Isabella Pain from the Nunatsiavut Government, and NunatuKavut President Chris Montague.

Three distinct goals emerged from this meeting: closing the education gap; closing the income gap; and ending violence against Aboriginal women and girls. I was pleased to share our province's successes in addressing Aboriginal health and wellness through initiatives such as the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

I spoke about the establishment of mental health case management services for individuals with serious mental illnesses, and the hiring of an Aboriginal consultant for the Department of Health and Community Services, and other items such as new funding for shelters in Hopedale, Rigolet and Nain, expansion of family justice services in Labrador to serve Aboriginal coastal communities, and an increased and regular police presence in the community of Postville.

I noted that in Budget 2010 we are providing the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network with $100,000 in funding to address issues in their communities such as poverty and violence in ways that are culturally sensitive, and $125,000 to Aboriginal women to develop and deliver a series of capacity-building workshops in the five Inuit communities on the North Coast of Labrador.

I also informed my colleagues about recent events in the community of Natuashish. During the community meeting to discuss whether or not to lift the alcohol ban, I told how I witnessed a demonstration by dozens of Innu women. They entered the room bearing placards that told stories of violence, suffering, and loss of life due to alcohol. These brave women collectively demonstrated their firm belief that the alcohol ban should stay in place. This demonstration was deeply moving and inspiring to me. Later that week the community voted to keep the ban in place.

What happened in Natuashish certainly shows that, with the combined efforts of governments, communities, and everyday people, through effective partnership and through inclusion, we are seeing positive social and economic change in Newfoundland and Labrador.

2010 05 04                         1:45 p.m.