Executive Council
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
November 28, 2008
St. John�s Native Friendship Centre Gets
Funding to Prevent Violence Against Women
A new project of the St. John�s Native
Friendship Centre being funded through the Provincial Government�s
Violence Prevention Initiative will assist incarcerated Aboriginal women
who have been exposed to family violence, as well as any affected
children.
�We know that many Aboriginal women who end up in the justice system
have been abused or exposed to violence,� said the Honourable Kathy
Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women and Lead
Minister of the Violence Prevention Initiative. �The Aboriginal Women
Offender Violence Prevention Program will provide support directly to
these women to assist them in recognizing violent and abusive situations
and in making healthy future decisions.�
The $30,000 for this project is part of the Aboriginal Women�s Violence
Prevention Grants Program, a component of the $9.2-million, six-year
Violence Prevention Initiative. The Provincial Government is working in
partnership with Aboriginal communities and organizations to prevent
and, ultimately, end the cycle of abuse and violence against women and
within families through a variety of programming under the Violence
Prevention Initiative.
The goal of the Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program is
to create programs to achieve stability in the lives of Aboriginal women
and children. This funding will enhance and promote community services
and supports to assist in successful reintegration and healthy lifestyle
choices, as well as provide individual assessments on which to base
referrals to counsellors and other resources.
�The centre is attempting to create a culturally-sensitive and
appropriate model for addressing family violence in the Aboriginal
community,� said Minister Dunderdale. �They are doing this through a
combination of traditional and holistic healing methods, including
education surrounding violence and engaging women in cultural
activities, such as healing circles, traditional story-telling, crafts,
throat singing, dancing and drumming. We believe this approach can make
a difference.�
�Only by working together to develop long and lasting solutions can we
curb and extinguish violence,� said the Honourable Patty Pottle,
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. �This government is taking a strong
stance against violence. These grants are another positive means by
which we are continually working in collaboration with Aboriginal groups
and communities throughout the province.�
The Aboriginal Women�s Violence Prevention Grants Program addresses a
priority action item determined at the first National Aboriginal Women�s
Summit (NAWS) in Corner Brook in June 2007. During the summit, it was
recognized 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. This
year, a total of $127,600 is being invested in seven projects across the
province.
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Media contact:
Erin Molloy
Communications Specialist
Women�s Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
erinmolloy@gov.nl.ca
|
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca
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2008 11 28
4:00 p.m. |