Social and Economic Well-Being of Aboriginal Peoples Remains a Priority in 2012

The Provincial Government continues to advocate for the social and economic well-being of Aboriginal peoples and important milestones were achieved during 2012.

“Our government is committed to engaging with Aboriginal peoples in Newfoundland and Labrador to advance social and economic initiatives that promote the well being and success of Aboriginal peoples and communities,” said the Honourable Felix Collins, Minister of Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs. “A great deal has been accomplished over the past 12 months, and we are laying the groundwork for further successes in the future.”

Some of the accomplishments of 2012 include:

• Unveiling of a monument in August at a ceremony held in Nutak to commemorate the formal apology made by the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador in 2005 to former residents who were relocated from the northern Labrador Inuit communities of Nutak and Hebron, closed in 1956 and 1959 respectively;
• Reaching of an agreement with the Nunatsiavut Government and the Government of Canada to cost-share an Inuit Housing Needs Assessment to assess the condition of the current housing stock in the five Inuit Communities and to conduct a survey of all residents to determine the housing need in those five communities;
• Completion of delivery of the Government Assistance Plan for Inuit community homeowners providing assistance to 111 homeowners to comply with provincial Heating Oil Storage Tank System Regulations;
• Continued provision of assistance to individual applicants seeking vital statistics information to support applications for band member status of the Qalipu Mi’Kmaq First Nation;
• Funding of $200,000 through the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grant Program, announced in December, to be distributed to nine new projects which address violence against Aboriginal women and children;
• Hosting the seventh annual Aboriginal Women’s Conference, The Path to the Good Life - Strong Women, Strong Communities through Culture, in Happy Valley-Goose Bay during February, to help address issues faced by Aboriginal women throughout the province; and,
• Publishing of a draft Aboriginal Consultation Policy for public, Aboriginal and industry review. The policy aims to guide Aboriginal consultation in respect of land and resource decision-making relating to resource development in Labrador. The policy is being finalized and is expected to be released in 2013.

“We are excited to be moving closer to a formal Aboriginal Consultation Policy that will help to strengthen our relationships with Aboriginal peoples, governments and organizations,” said Minister Collins. “Of course decision-making processes must proceed while the policy is under development and to that end, our government through the Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs Secretariat, has supported government regulators, industry proponents and Aboriginal organizations in ensuring the completion of many necessary Aboriginal consultations during 2012 while we work to formalize our policy.”

In addition to the successes noted above, three Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) were signed in 2012 between the Provincial Government and each of the Nunatsiavut Government, the Mushuau Innu First Nation (Natuashish) and the Sheshatshiu Innu First Nation with the overall objective of improving planning around the safety and well-being of children and youth. The MOUs provide the framework for improvement in overall service accessibility and effectiveness while recognizing the unique culture in Aboriginal communities.

“These MOUs are a significant step forward for the delivery of important programs and services to Aboriginal communities in Labrador and will help to enhance service coordination and delivery in Innu and Inuit communities,” said Minister Collins. “We have achieved a great deal in 2012 and as we look forward to 2013 and beyond, our government will continue to help strengthen Aboriginal communities by addressing asserted Aboriginal rights, Aboriginal governance and effective intergovernmental relationships.”

- 30 -

Media contact:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs
Labrador Affairs Office
709-729-1674, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca 

2012 12 27                      10:55 a.m.