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Executive Council
July 21, 2011

Meeting with National Aboriginal Leaders Productive

The Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, called the annual meeting of Canadian premiers and leaders of national Aboriginal organizations held yesterday in Vancouver both productive and encouraging. Education, economic development, violence against Aboriginal women and crisis and emergency management were key topics of discussion.

"The issues facing Aboriginal people throughout Canada, and in our own province, require our attention and action," said Premier Dunderdale. "This meeting allowed for very straightforward and focused discussion among premiers and national Aboriginal leaders on what has been achieved and what still needs to be done. There are many commonalities in the challenges faced by Aboriginal people throughout our country, meaning there are also huge opportunities for jurisdictions to learn from each other what works well in facing these challenges and also to explore collaboratively areas that require more work."

Premier Dunderdale also noted that she was pleased to see that many of the focus areas for discussion are ones where Newfoundland and Labrador has already made progress. The Premier shared details of some of these successes with her fellow premiers and Aboriginal leaders.

"Our government and Aboriginal groups in our province have forged a good relationship and this is reflected in initiatives such as our Violence Prevention Initiative which has a particular focus on Aboriginal women and girls," said Premier Dunderdale. "In addition, our Northern Strategic Plan has resulted in unprecedented levels of investment in Labrador, with the focus of improving the social and economic well-being of all residents."

The Premier also highlighted the recent ratification of the New Dawn Agreement by the Innu Nation, which secures significant employment and economic benefits for the Innu people.

"But while much has been achieved, there is still much work to be done," said the Premier. "A high priority for my government is to build on what has been accomplished and to continue to work collaboratively with Aboriginal groups."

Premiers and leaders agreed to convene a third National Aboriginal Women's Summit to be hosted by Manitoba with a focus on addressing violence against Aboriginal women and girls, to develop a virtual institute to support Aboriginal economic development, and to call on the Prime Minister to convene a First Ministers Meeting to be held in 2012 focused on Aboriginal education.

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Media contacts:

Glenda Power
Director of Communications
Office of the Premier
709-729-3960
glendapower@gov.nl.ca
Milly Brown
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
709-729-4304, 631-8477
millybrown@gov.nl.ca

2011 07 21                                                                              1:15 p.m.

 
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