Executive Council
December 22, 2014
Advancing the Interests of Aboriginal People
Important Initiatives in 2014 Continue to Address the Needs of Aboriginal People, Families and Communities
The Provincial Government continued to advance initiatives that will benefit Aboriginal people, families and communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in 2014 including several new initiatives to strengthen the Provincial Government’s relationships with Aboriginal people.
“This past year saw the results of a successful collaboration amongst the Provincial, Federal and Nunatsiavut Governments in the release of an Inuit Housing Needs Assessment and the creation of a joint housing repair program by the Provincial and Nunatsiavut Governments. This summer, the Provincial Government also announced a suite of initiatives to support awareness of Aboriginal culture and representation within the provincial public service. Our government remains firmly committed to working with Aboriginal people, governments and organizations to advance issues of importance to Aboriginal individuals, families and communities.”
- The Honourable Keith Russell, Minister of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
In support of healthy and sustainable housing, Budget 2014 provided $350,000 through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation to support an equal partnership with the Nunatsiavut Government to assist low-income private homeowners in the Inuit Communities complete major renovations. This funding will support 24 attic retrofits and 10 major home renovation projects.
In August, the Provincial Government announced a series of new initiatives to build Aboriginal capacity and expertise in the provincial public service and awareness of Aboriginal culture. These initiatives include the development of an Aboriginal Human Resource Strategy, development of a Land Claims and Self-Government Agreements Implementation Policy and a review of Aboriginal content and delivery in provincial school curriculum. Through these initiatives, the Provincial Government intends to forge a more collaborative and respectful relationship with Aboriginal governments and organizations to better understand and address the needs of Aboriginal people. Work on these initiatives is currently ongoing.
Other initiatives to specifically support Aboriginal people and communities in 2014 include investments of $200,000 to fund 10 new violence prevention projects under the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grants Program and $50,000 to support 14 projects under the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Program. An All-Party Resolution was also passed in the House of Assembly in March 2014 supporting the call by the National Aboriginal Organizations on the Federal Government for an inquiry on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.
Through the Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs Office, work also continued on land claims and self-government negotiations and Aboriginal consultation throughout 2014.
QUICK FACTS
- The Provincial Government continued to advance initiatives that will benefit Aboriginal people, families and communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador in 2014.
- Budget 2014 provided $350,000 through the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation to support an equal partnership with the Nunatsiavut Government to assist low-income private homeowners in the Inuit Communities complete major renovations.
- A series of initiatives to support Aboriginal capacity and expertise in the provincial public service and awareness of Aboriginal culture were announced in August.
- Since 2005, 102 projects have been funded under the Aboriginal Women’s Violence Prevention Grants Program for a total investment of over $1.5 million.
- An All-Party Resolution was passed in March 2014 supporting the call by the National Aboriginal Organizations on the Federal Government for an inquiry on missing and murdered Aboriginal women and girls.
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Media contact:
Roger Scaplen
Director of Communications
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1495, 697-5267
rogerscaplen@gov.nl.ca
2014 12 22 11:50 a.m.