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Executive Council
Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
October 22, 2010

Further Funding Announced for Violence Prevention Work in Aboriginal Communities

Three more projects have received funding for violence prevention in Newfoundland and Labrador. The Aboriginal Violence Prevention Grants Program, available through the Violence Prevention Initiative (VPI), awarded an additional $69,000 to projects this year, bringing the Provincial Government's total investment to $200,000.

"Violence prevention is an area our government continues to view as a priority for Newfoundland and Labrador," said the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. "The money we have invested this year for violence prevention will help organizations across the province work with Aboriginal people, and women in particular, at the community level gain access to resources and skills they will need to bring an end to violence."

This funding will support the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network (NAWN) in its project to train Aboriginal men and youth as facilitators in their local communities and, therefore, include them in the critical effort to end violence.

The St. John's Native Friendship Centre and Miawpukek First Nation of Conne River have also received grants. The St. John's Native Friendship Centre will use the funding to support programs and counseling for young Aboriginal women and children as part of a culturally-sensitive violence prevention program. Miawpukek First Nation will renovate the Conne River Health and Social Services Centre women's shelter to provide room for added programming, a meeting space and additional temporary accommodations. For full details on projects funded, see backgrounder below.

"We all have a role to play in standing up against violence towards women and children," said the Honourable Patty Pottle, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. "The struggle to stop violence must take place on many fronts, and the Violence Prevention Initiative is helping to provide the necessary tools to assist Aboriginal communities in their own stance against violence."

The addition of these three projects brings the total number supported by the Provincial Government's Aboriginal Violence Prevention Grants Program to 13 this year. In the past six years, the Provincial Government has invested in 56 projects.

Grants are awarded based on criteria developed from needs identified by Aboriginal women at the Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Summit in 2007. These criteria include a focus on violence prevention plans of action, public awareness and education materials or activities, healing programs, improved programs and services at shelters for Aboriginal women, the development of Aboriginal women's leadership, economic or educational capacity, and the improved cultural strength of Aboriginal communities.

The VPI is a six-year, multi-departmental, government-community partnership to find long-term solutions to violence against those most at risk. The initiative involves 11 government departments and agencies and over 30 community partners including a Community Advisory Committee and 10 Regional Coordinating Committees Against Violence. For more information, visit www.gov.nl.ca/vpi.

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Media contacts:

Melissa MacLeod
Communications Specialist
Women's Policy Office
709-729-6225, 693-7938
melissamacleod@gov.nl.ca

John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Labrador and Aboriginal Affairs
709-729-1674, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

 

Backgrounder

Aboriginal Women's Violence Prevention Grants 2010: Newfoundland

Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network (NAWN)

Aboriginal Women and Men; Building a Bridge to Wellness

The Newfoundland Aboriginal Women's Network will train Aboriginal men in partnership with youth as facilitators in their communities, giving Aboriginal men the opportunity to join the fight to end violence. NAWN will continue to address the issue of violence prevention and awareness through facilitation and workshops in local communities.

Grant awarded: $23,000

St. John's Native Friendship Centre

Restoring Culture: The Journey of Healing

The St. John's Native Friendship Centre will deliver culturally-appropriate support programs and transitional counseling as part of a violence prevention program. The program will reach out to young Aboriginal women and children who may have, for example, substance abuse issues, experienced childhood sexual or physical abuse, or who may have a high risk for suicide. The programs are sensitive to the needs and lives of Aboriginal women and children and are integral to the healing process which raises Aboriginal women and girl's sense of value and worth as individuals, leaders, mothers and community role models.

Grant awarded: $23,000

Miawpukek First Nation, Conne River Health and Social Services Centre

Protecting Our Future — Caring for out Women and Children

Conne River Health and Social Services Centre, on behalf of Miawpukek First Nation, will renovate their women's shelter in order to accommodate additional programming. These renovations will create a meeting space for the women's centre as well as additional temporary crisis accommodations.

Grant awarded: $23,000
 

2010 10 22                                                        10:35 a.m.

 


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