I rise today to inform honourable members of the fifth
annual two-day Aboriginal Women's Conference which took place this week
in St. John's. This year's theme, the Path to the Good Life -
Evolving Opportunities for Aboriginal Women, focuses on growing
opportunities in our expanding natural resources sector.
In a keynote address to the conference Tuesday
evening, my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable Kathy Dunderdale, Minister
of Natural Resources and Minister Responsible for the Status of Women,
pointed out how the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, along with
the Federal Government, Nunatsiavut Government, the Innu Nation, the
Labrador Metis Nation, and Nalcor Energy, recently announced a $30
million training initiative for Aboriginal women and men throughout
Labrador.
By providing training opportunities and improving the
labour market for Aboriginal people, we are not only increasing our
skilled workforce, we are helping to enrich and improve the lives of
many families, which will in turn improve the economic and social
make-up of communities.
I was very pleased to have the opportunity to address
the conference during a breakfast gathering on Wednesday, where I was
joined by my Cabinet colleague, the Honourable John Hickey, Minister of
Labrador Affairs.
These women always go out of their way to make me feel
welcome, like family. I pointed out that the Government of Newfoundland
and Labrador is a proud supporter of Aboriginal women and continues to
invest in areas that are important to themselves and their communities.
As well, I had the great pleasure of taking part in a
tribute to the late Flossie Oliver, an elder from Happy Valley-Goose
Bay. She was known simply as Aunt Flossie, and was indeed a strong force
in her community. I understand she provided much guidance to her family,
her community, and to other Aboriginal women.
It was a great honour to join her family, her daughter
Jenny, and her son Valance, who works in our Labrador Affairs offices,
and take part in a moving dedication to her. She will be a hard act to
follow.
Aboriginal women are the keepers of culture and
traditions and they are a great source of strength in their communities.
And like all women, they can be a profound force for positive social
change. That is why the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is so
pleased to lend its support to this conference, which provides an
opportunity for Aboriginal women from all over the province to gather,
exchange ideas and viewpoints, and give inspiration and support to each
other.
2010 03 25
1:55 p.m.